Cynulliad Cenedlaethol CymruNational Assembly for Wales · Cyfarfod llawnPlenary sitting
Dydd Iau 30 Tachwedd 2000
Thursday 30 November 2000
CynnwysContents
- 3Datganiad gan y LlywyddStatement by the Presiding Officer
- 3Cwestiynau i’r Gweinidog dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau CymdeithasolQuestions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
- 3Hybu Bwyta’n Iach ymhlith Pobl IfancPromoting Healthy Eating among the Young
- 5Mynd i’r Afael â Chyffredinrwydd Clefyd y GalonTackling the Prevalence of Heart Disease
- 7Llawdriniaethau Gosod Clun NewyddHip Replacement Operations
- 9Rhoi Statws Ymddiriedolaeth i Grwpiau Iechyd LleolGiving Local Health Groups Trust Status
- 11Adrannau Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol (Diwallu’r Galw dros Fisoedd y Gaeaf)Social Service Departments (Meeting Demands over the Winter Months)
- 13Cwestiynau i’r Gweinidog dros Addysg a Dysgu Gydol OesQuestions to the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning
- 13Darpariaeth ar gyfer Disgyblion sydd wedi’u Gwahardd yn BarhaolProvision for Permanently Excluded Pupils
- 15Gwasanaethau Addysg ym MhowysEducation Services in Powys
- 17Datblygu Meysydd Llafur Cymreig ar gyfer Disgyblion Ysgol yng NghymruDeveloping Welsh Curricula for School Pupils in Wales
- 19Sefydliadau yng Nghymru (Anfantais Gystadleuol yn y Farchnad Addysg Uwch)Institutions in Wales (Competitive Disadvantage in the Higher Education Market)
- 21Ymchwiliad Annibynnol i Galedi ac Ariannu MyfyrwyrIndependent Investigation into Student Hardship and Funding
- 23Cwestiynau i Bwyllgor y TŷQuestions to the House Committee
- 23Adeilad y PierheadThe Pierhead Building
- 23Trefniadau DiogelwchSecurity Arrangements
- 24Cynllunio Ymweliadau TramorThe Planning of International Visits
- 25Ystafell Ysmygu y CynulliadAssembly Smoking Room
- 26Diogelwch System Cyfrifiaduron y CynulliadSecurity of Assembly Computer System
- 27Ymdrin yn Gyfartal â Chwestiynau a Gyflwynir yn Gymraeg neu yn SaesnegEqual Treatment for Questions Tabled in Welsh or English
- 27Ymestyn Oriau Desg Gymorth Gwasanaeth Busnes SiemensExtending the Hours of the Siemens Business Services Helpdesk
- 28Defnyddio Neuadd y CynulliadUse of the Assembly Milling Area
- 29Rhaglenni Addysgiadol ynghylch y Cynulliad CenedlaetholEducational Programmes about the National Assembly
- 30Cynllun Gwreiddiol Adeilad Newydd y Cynulliad (Darpariaeth ar gyfer Pobl Anabl)New Assembly Building Original Design (Disabled Provision)
- 31Diogelwch Swyddfeydd Etholaeth Aelodau’r CynulliadSecurity of Assembly Members’ Constituency Offices
- 32Strategaeth i Hybu Iechyd a LlesStrategy to Promote Health and Wellbeing
- 47Datganiad ar FlaenafonStatement on Blaenavon
- 62Strategaeth i Hybu Iechyd a Lles: Parhad o’r DdadlStrategy to Promote Health and Wellbeing: Continuation of the Debate 4 o bleidleisiau4 votes
- 95Dadl FerShort Debate
PleidleisiauVotes
| PleidlaisVote | O blaidFor | YmatalAbstain | Yn erbynAgainst | CanlyniadResult |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strategaeth i Hybu Iechyd a Lles: Parhad o’r DdadlStrategy to Promote Health and Wellbeing: Continuation of the Debate | ||||
| Gwelliant 1Amendment 1 | 50 | 0 | 0 | DerbyniwydAdopted |
| Gwelliant 2Amendment 2 | 49 | 1 | 0 | DerbyniwydAdopted |
| Gwelliant 3Amendment 3 | 50 | 0 | 0 | DerbyniwydAdopted |
| Cynnig wedi’i ddiwygioAmended motion | 51 | 0 | 0 | DerbyniwydAdopted |
TrafodionProceedings
Cyfarfu’r Cynulliad am 9.05 a.m. gyda’r Llywydd yn y Gadair.
The Assembly met at 9.05 a.m. with the Presiding Officer in the Chair.
Datganiad gan y Llywydd
Statement by the Presiding Officer
Dafydd Elis-Thomas Y Llywydd siaradwyd yn Gymraeg t. 3
Dafydd Elis-Thomas The Presiding Officer spoken in Welsh p. 3
Cyn inni gychwyn ar gwestiynau, byddai’n briodol imi fynegi cydymdeimlad y Cynulliad â Janet Davies o golli ei phriod Peter. Mae Janet yn ddiolchgar i’r holl Aelodau a phawb arall sydd wedi mynegi eu cydymdeimlad. Bydd ein dymuniadau a’n meddyliau gyda Janet yn ystod yr angladd yfory, a bydd llawer ohonom yn bresennol yno. Mynegaf gydymdeimlad y Cynulliad â Janet yn ei phrofedigaeth.
Before we start on questions, it would be appropriate for me to express the Assembly’s sympathy to Janet Davies on the loss of her husband, Peter. Janet is grateful to all Members and everybody else who have expressed their sympathy. Our wishes and thoughts will be with Janet during the funeral tomorrow, where many of us will be present. I express the Assembly’s sympathy to Janet in her loss.
Cwestiynau i’r Gweinidog dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Hybu Bwyta’n Iach ymhlith Pobl Ifanc
Promoting Healthy Eating among the Young
Sut mae’r Gweinidog dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol yn bwriadu hybu bwyta’n iach ymhlith pobl ifanc? (OAQ8149)
How does the Minister for Health and Social Services plan to promote healthy eating among the young? (OAQ8149)
Jane Hutt The Minister for Health and Social Services spoken in English p. 3
Jane Hutt Y Gweinidog dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 3
We support the development of healthy eating in schools and communities by means of health promotion schemes in schools, school fruit tuck shops and community food initiatives. Draft regulations on nutritional standards for school meals will be issued for consultation shortly.
Yr ydym o blaid datblygu bwyta’n iach mewn ysgolion a chymunedau drwy gyfrwng cynlluniau hybu iechyd mewn ysgolion, siopau ffrwythau mewn ysgolion a mentrau bwyd cymunedol. Cyhoeddir y rheoliadau drafft ar safonau maeth ar gyfer prydau bwyd ysgol ar gyfer ymgynghoriad maes o law.
Yr wyf yn siŵr y byddai Jane yn cytuno nad yw pobl ifanc yn aml yn sylweddoli bod bwydydd ffres yn rhatach, yn iachach ac yn aml yn fwy cyfleus na’r hyn a elwir yn fwydydd cyfleus. A wnaiff hi sicrhau bod yr wybodaeth honno’n cyrraedd ein disgyblion ysgol a’u bod yn derbyn gwybodaeth ynglŷn â sut i baratoi a choginio bwyd fel y cânt y fantais lawn ohono a’u bod felly’n diogelu eu hiechyd?
I am sure that Jane would agree that young people often do not realise that fresh foods are cheaper, healthier and often more convenient than so-called convenience foods. Will she ensure that that information reaches our school pupils and that they receive information on how to prepare and cook food so that they gain full benefit from it and therefore safeguard their health?
That is important. The Assembly is leading the way in health promotion schemes in school in Wales. We have a well-established health promoting school scheme in Gwynedd. Fruit tuck shops are an interesting way in which we can ensure that young people eat fruit and involve them in the setting up and running of tuck shops. Fruit tuck shops were piloted in areas of social deprivation, as poor food and poverty are closely linked. People and young children in the more deprived communities are those least likely to eat fruit and vegetables, which we promote.
Mae hynny’n bwysig. Mae’r Cynulliad yn arwain y ffordd gyda chynlluniau hybu iechyd mewn ysgolion yng Nghymru. Mae gennym gynllun ysgol hybu iechyd sefydledig yng Ngwynedd. Mae siopau ffrwythau yn ffordd ddiddorol i sicrhau bod pobl ifanc yn bwyta ffrwythau a’u cynnwys wrth sefydlu a rhedeg siopau. Agorwyd siopau ffrwythau arbrofol mewn ardaloedd o amddifadedd cymdeithasol, gan fod cyswllt agos rhwng bwyd gwael a thlodi. Y bobl a’r plant ifanc hynny yn y cymunedau mwy difreintiedig sydd y lleiaf tebygol o fwyta ffrwythau a llysiau, sef yr hyn a hybwn.
Food preparation and cooking is being considered in terms of the curriculum. Food has a higher profile in Curriculum 2000. That should be welcomed, as the subject has disappeared from our mainstream education interests.
Mae paratoi a choginio bwyd yn cael ei ystyried yng nghyd-destun y cwricwlwm. Mae gan fwyd broffil uwch yng Nghwricwlwm 2000. Dylid croesawu hynny, oherwydd bod y pwnc wedi diflannu o’n diddordebau addysg prif ffrwd.
Promoting healthy eating in schools can be assisted by offering alternatives to fizzy drinks and sticky sweets, which are often sold in schools. Does the Minister agree that the provision of free school milk in Wales is an important step towards building strong bones and reducing tooth decay?
Gellir cynnal y broses o hybu bwyta’n iach mewn ysgolion drwy gynnig dewisiadau amgen i ddiodydd pop a losin llawn siwgr, a werthir yn aml mewn ysgolion. A yw’r Gweinidog yn cytuno bod darparu llaeth am ddim mewn ysgolion yng Nghymru yn gam pwysig tuag at adeiladu esgyrn cryf a lleihau pydredd dannedd?
Mick has championed free school milk, which we hope to reintroduce for key stage 1 pupils from January 2001, subject to legal confirmation. It is important that we consider this as part of a balanced diet of milk, fruit and vegetables. The free school milk scheme will make a major contribution when it is reintroduced to Wales. It was lost, tragically, due to a former Government Minister’s decision.
Mae Mick wedi ymgyrchu i gael llaeth am ddim mewn ysgolion, y gobeithiwn ei ailgyflwyno ar gyfer disgyblion cyfnod allweddol 1 o Ionawr 2001 ymlaen, yn amodol ar gadarnhad cyfreithiol. Mae’n bwysig i hyn gael ei ystyried fel rhan o ddeiet cytbwys o laeth, ffrwythau a llysiau. Bydd y cynllun llaeth am ddim mewn ysgolion yn gwneud cyfraniad mawr wrth gael ei ailgyflwyno yng Nghymru. Fe’i collwyd o ganlyniad i benderfyniad gan un o gyn Weinidogion y Llywodraeth, ac roedd hyn yn drasiedi.
You will have seen a recent campaign poster which illustrated the first signs of heart disease by showing a young child sitting in front of a television eating convenience food. The health visitor is a vital link for education and diet. Will you outline the measures being taken to ensure the full recruitment and training of health visitors?
Byddwch wedi gweld poster ymgyrchu diweddar yn dangos arwyddion cynnar clefyd y galon drwy ddangos plentyn ifanc yn eistedd o flaen y teledu yn bwyta bwyd parod. Mae’r ymwelydd iechyd yn gyswllt hanfodol o ran addysg a deiet. A amlinellwch y camau a gymerir i sicrhau y caiff ymwelwyr iechyd eu recriwtio a’u hyfforddi’n llawn?
The role of the health visitor is vital. The health visitor, a universal provision, is the person that most parents trust from the start when a new baby arrives. Health visitors are key in our Sure Start initiative, which is rolling out throughout Wales and fulfilling important work. The training of health visitors and school nurses is undergoing a review at the moment. We hope to improve the status and numbers of health visitors in Wales.
Mae rôl yr ymwelydd iechyd yn hanfodol. Yr ymwelydd iechyd, sydd yn ddarpariaeth gyffredinol, yw’r person y mae’r rhan fwyaf o rieni yn ymddiried ynddo o’r cychwyn ar enedigaeth babi newydd. Mae ymwelwyr iechyd yn rhan allweddol o fenter Cychwyn Cadarn, a gyflwynir yn raddol ledled Cymru gan gyflawni gwaith pwysig. Mae hyfforddiant ymwelwyr iechyd a nyrsys ysgol yn cael ei adolygu ar hyn o bryd. Gobeithiwn wella statws a chynyddu nifer yr ymwelwyr iechyd yng Nghymru.
Mynd i’r Afael â Chyffredinrwydd Clefyd y Galon
Tackling the Prevalence of Heart Disease
How is Jane Hutt tackling the prevalence of heart disease in Wales? (OAQ8159)
Sut mae Jane Hutt yn mynd i’r afael â chyffredinrwydd clefyd y galon yng Nghymru? (OAQ8159)
The Wales implementation plan for the national service framework on coronary heart disease sets out a range of proposed measures to reduce heart disease. The plan was discussed by the Health and Social Services Committee last month and is currently out for public consultation.
Mae cynllun gweithredu Cymru ar gyfer fframwaith y gwasanaeth gwladol ar glefyd y galon yn nodi amrywiaeth o fesurau arfaethedig i leihau clefyd y galon. Trafodwyd y cynllun gan y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol fis diwethaf ac mae’n destun ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus ar hyn o bryd.
Standard 1 in the framework document focuses on reducing the incidence of risk factors for coronary heart disease in the population. The action proposed is the development, implementation and monitoring of evidence-based programmes to address the impact of tobacco use, diet and physical activity, targeted at the most disadvantaged communities in Wales.
Mae Safon 1 yn y ddogfen fframwaith yn canolbwyntio ar leihau amlygrwydd ffactorau risg ar gyfer clefyd y galon yn y boblogaeth. Y camau a gynigir yw datblygu, gweithredu a monitro rhaglenni yn seiliedig ar dystiolaeth i ymdrin ag effaith defnyddio tybaco, deiet a gweithgarwch corfforol, a thargedu hynny at y cymunedau mwyaf difreintiedig yng Nghymru.
Standard 2 ensures that everyone at high risk of developing coronary heart disease, and all those who have been diagnosed as having the disease, should have access to risk assessment and be offered an appropriate treatment plan.
Mae Safon 2 yn sicrhau y dylai pawb sydd â risg fawr o ddatblygu clefyd y galon, a phawb sydd wedi cael diagnosis yn nodi eu bod yn dioddef o’r clefyd, gael mynediad i asesiad risg a chael cynnig cynllun priodol o driniaeth.
I am sure that you agree that treatment, as well as prevention, is important if Wales is to reduce its high mortality rate. What specific investment have you made to improve treatment facilities in north Wales, so that patients requiring simple procedures or diagnosis do not have to travel long distances or wait too long?
Yr wyf yn siŵr y cytunwch bod trin, yn ogystal ag atal, yn bwysig os yw Cymru am leihau ei chyfradd marwolaeth uchel. Pa fuddsoddiad penodol a wnaethoch i wella’r cyfleusterau triniaeth yng ngogledd Cymru, fel nad oes yn rhaid i gleifion sydd angen triniaeth syml neu ddiagnosis deithio ymhell neu aros yn rhy hir?
As you know, part of the £25 million invested in the health service this year was for cardiac services, and £6 million of it has been allocated specifically to heart disease to ensure that facilities are improved. That will include improvements in north Wales. North Wales Health Authority will publish details of how it spends that extra money and I will ensure, Janet, that you receive the full information.
Fel y gwyddoch, yr oedd rhan o’r £25 miliwn a fuddsoddwyd yn y gwasanaeth iechyd eleni ar gyfer gwasanaethau cardiac, a dyrannwyd £6 miliwn ohono yn benodol i glefyd y galon i sicrhau gwell cyfleusterau. Bydd hynny’n cynnwys gwelliannau yng ngogledd Cymru. Bydd Awdurdod Iechyd Gogledd Cymru yn cyhoeddi manylion am sut y bydd yn gwario’r arian ychwanegol hwnnw ac fe sicrhaf, Janet, y derbyniwch yr wybodaeth lawn.
The partnership agreement and the Health and Social Services Committee’s proposed budget for this year highlight a new health inequalities fund. Given that there is a great deal of inequality in the provision of preventative measures and treatment for people with heart disease in Wales, do you not think that some of these funds could go towards targeting the communities with the worst statistics?
Mae’r cytundeb partneriaeth a chyllideb arfaethedig y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol eleni yn nodi cronfa anghydraddoldebau iechyd newydd. O gofio bod anghydraddoldeb sylweddol o ran darparu mesurau ataliol a thriniaeth i bobl â chlefyd y galon yng Nghymru, oni chredwch y gellid defnyddio rhywfaint o’r cronfeydd hyn i dargedu’r cymunedau gyda’r ystadegau gwaethaf?
When I spoke to the NHS Confederation recently, I suggested that we should target our health inequalities fund specifically according to needs that we identify. As well as tackling inequalities in health status, such as the higher incidence of heart disease in the Valleys, we should also target funding at those communities. The national service framework for coronary heart disease provides an ideal vehicle for us to do that. It is about prevention and rehabilitation as well as providing the important cardiac services.
Pan siaradais â Chydffederasiwn yr NHS yn ddiweddar, awgrymais y dylem dargedu ein cronfa anghydraddoldebau iechyd yn benodol yn ôl yr anghenion a nodir. Yn ogystal â mynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldebau mewn statws iechyd, megis y nifer uwch o achosion o glefyd y galon yn y Cymoedd, dylem hefyd dargedu arian at y cymunedau hynny. Darpara’r fframwaith gwasanaeth gwladol ar gyfer clefyd coronaidd y galon gyfrwng delfrydol inni wneud hynny. Mae’n ymwneud ag atal ac adfer yn ogystal â darparu’r gwasanaethau cardiac pwysig.
I talked to a cardiac surgeon on Saturday and he told me that 70 per cent of patients who present for treatment are smokers. Is this not a huge lesson for us?
Siaradais â llawfeddyg cardiac ddydd Sadwrn a dywedodd wrthyf fod 70 y cant o’r cleifion a gaiff eu trin yn ysmygu. Onid yw hyn yn wers enfawr inni?
It is a huge lesson for us, David, and that is why it is important that we understand that this framework is not simply about the vital cardiac services that we need to provide. This year, £1.75 million has been allocated to the smoking prevention and cessation programme. It is important that we work with our young people through initiatives such as smoke-free class competitions and tobacco action groups, as well as the new smoking cessation services that we are setting up in Wales. It is important that this Assembly makes the connection between smoking cessation and reducing heart disease.
Mae’n wers enfawr inni, David, a dyna pham ei bod yn bwysig inni ddeall nad yw’r fframwaith ond yn ymwneud â’r gwasanaethau cardiac hanfodol y mae angen inni eu darparu. Eleni, dyrannwyd £1.75 miliwn i’r rhaglen atal a rhoi’r gorau i ysmygu. Mae’n bwysig inni weithio gyda’n pobl ifanc drwy fentrau megis cystadlaethau yn y dosbarth ar beidio ag ysmygu a grwpiau gweithredu tybaco, yn ogystal â’r gwasanaethau newydd ar gyfer rhoi’r gorau i ysmygu yr ydym wrthi’n eu sefydlu yng Nghymru. Mae’n bwysig i’r Cynulliad hwn nodi’r cysylltiad rhwng rhoi’r gorau i ysmygu a lleihau clefyd y galon.
Llawdriniaethau Gosod Clun Newydd
Hip Replacement Operations
How many hip replacement operations would £380,000 fund? (OAQ8135)
Sawl llawdriniaeth gosod clun newydd y gellid ei chynnal gyda £380,000? (OAQ8135)
The sum of £380,000 would fund approximately 88 hip replacements, based on an average cost for this procedure. The in-patient cost for a hip replacement varies, and the most up-to-date information is contained in the report ‘Activity and Costs in Welsh Hospitals’, a copy of which I have placed in the Library.
Byddai £380,000 yn ariannu tuag 88 o lawdriniaethau gosod clun newydd, yn seiliedig ar gost gyfartalog y weithdrefn hon. Mae’r gost ar gyfer gosod clun i gleifion mewnol yn amrywio, a chynhwysir yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf yn yr adroddiad ‘Gweithgarwch a Chostau yn Ysbytai Cymru’. Yr wyf wedi gosod copi o hynny yn y Llyfrgell.
Information on cost has been gathered in diagnosis related groups, which is a standardised costing tool. The cost associated with each diagnosis related group varies across Wales. Hip replacements are included within the range of procedures identified under hip and femur procedures.
Casglwyd gwybodaeth am gost yn ôl grwpiau diagnosis, sef dull costio safonol. Amrywia’r costau sydd yn gysylltiedig â phob grŵp diagnosis ledled Cymru. Cynhwysir gosod clun newydd o fewn yr amrywiaeth o driniaethau a nodwyd o dan driniaethau clun a morddwyd.
Thank you for that helpful answer. Will you apologise to the hundreds of people who are suffering as they wait for expensive treatments on the NHS because of the massive waste of money, calculated by the National Audit Office to be £380,000, arising directly out of our dithering First Minister’s futile decision to put the new Assembly building on hold last March?
Diolch ichi am yr ateb defnyddiol hwnnw. A ymddiheurwch i’r cannoedd o bobl sydd yn dioddef wrth iddynt aros am driniaeth gostus ar yr NHS oherwydd y gwastraff arian enfawr, y cyfrifwyd ei fod yn £380,000 gan y Swyddfa Archwilio Genedlaethol, sydd yn deillio’n uniongyrchol o benderfyniad ofer ein Prif Weinidog anwadal fis Mawrth diwethaf i beidio â bwrw ymlaen ag adeilad newydd y Cynulliad?
I do not know how this relates to the cost of hip replacement operations. People who are waiting for hip replacements want to hear when the new money that has been invested in the health service will make a difference. I can tell you, Glyn, that that difference is being made because last month the out-patient wait for orthopaedic treatment was down by 6 per cent, the in-patient and day-case treatment waiting list was down by 300, with 4 per cent fewer waiting over six months in the case of out-patients and for 12 months in the case of in-patients and day cases. That is what people in Wales want to hear. They do not want to hear this petty politicking about how we are spending our money. They want to know that we are spending our money on reducing the wait for vital hip operations and other orthopaedic procedures.
Ni wn beth yw’r cysylltiad rhwng hyn a chost llawdriniaethau gosod clun newydd. Mae pobl sydd yn aros am glun newydd am glywed pryd y bydd yr arian newydd a fuddsoddwyd yn y gwasanaeth iechyd yn gwneud gwahaniaeth. Gallaf ddweud wrthych, Glyn, y caiff gwahaniaeth ei wneud oherwydd yr oedd hyd y cyfnod aros i gleifion allanol am driniaeth orthopedig fis diwethaf wedi gostwng 6 y cant, yr oedd y rhestr aros am driniaeth i gleifion mewnol ac achosion dydd wedi gostwng o 300, gyda 4 y cant yn llai yn aros dros chwe mis yn achos cleifion allanol ac am 12 mis yn achos cleifion mewnol ac achosion dydd. Dyna beth y mae pobl yng Nghymru am ei glywed. Nid ydynt am glywed y gwleidydda plentynaidd hwn am sut y gwariwn ein harian. Maent am wybod ein bod yn gwario ein harian ar leihau’r cyfnod aros ar gyfer llawdriniaethau clun hanfodol a thriniaethau orthopedig eraill.
Given that the waiting times for hip replacements are the result of emergency pressures and delayed discharge, will you say how the extra money allocated in the partnership agreement to tackle those issues can help to reduce the waiting lists for hip replacements?
O gofio bod yr amserau aros ar gyfer gosod clun newydd yn ganlyniad pwysau brys ac oedi wrth ryddhau cleifion, a ddywedwch sut y gall yr arian ychwanegol a glustnodwyd yn y cytundeb partneriaeth i fynd i’r afael â’r materion hynny helpu i leihau’r rhestrau aros ar gyfer gosod clun newydd?
It all ties up; you are right, Peter. There is a direct influence on how we manage our winter pressures—we are in the winter months now—and how we ensure that we do not lose that drive down on our waiting times, particularly for orthopaedic procedures. An extra £17.5 million to tackle winter pressures has been provided. That means more beds, more primary care facilities and the flu immunisation campaign reaching the target groups. I am confident that that investment will make a difference this winter and enable us to keep driving down the waiting times in Wales.
Yr ydych yn iawn, Peter; mae popeth yn gysylltiedig. Mae dylanwad uniongyrchol ar sut yr ydym yn rheoli ein pwysau gaeaf—yr ydym ym misoedd y gaeaf yn awr—a sut y sicrhawn na chollwn y frwydr i ostwng amseroedd aros, yn arbennig ar gyfer gweithdrefnau orthopedig. Darparwyd £17.5 miliwn yn ychwanegol i fynd i’r afael â phwysau’r gaeaf. Golyga hynny fwy o welyau, mwy o gyfleusterau gofal sylfaenol a’r ymgyrch imiwneiddio rhag ffliw yn cyrraedd y grwpiau targed. Yr wyf yn hyderus y bydd buddsoddi yn gwneud gwahaniaeth y gaeaf hwn ac yn ein galluogi i barhau i ostwng yr amseroedd aros yng Nghymru.
Following the announcement that £15 million has been lost from the collection of prescription charges, with which Plaid Cymru—The Party of Wales does not agree, what steps will you take—
Yn dilyn y cyhoeddiad y collwyd £15 miliwn wrth gasglu taliadau presgripsiwn, yr anghytuna Plaid Cymru—The Party of Wales â hwy, pa gamau a gymerwch—
Dafydd Elis-Thomas The Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 8
Dafydd Elis-Thomas Y Llywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 8
Order. I have made it clear on many occasions that questions should relate to the issue before us.
Trefn. Yr wyf wedi egluro sawl gwaith y dylai cwestiynau fod yn berthnasol i’r mater dan sylw.
I was thinking of the £380,000 referred to in the question. What steps will the Minister take to ensure that the system is reinforced so that pharmacies’ staff are not tax collectors?
Yr oeddwn yn meddwl am y £380,000 y cyfeiriwyd ato yn y cwestiwn. Pa gamau fydd y Gweinidog yn eu cymryd i sicrhau yr atgyfnerthir y system fel na ddaw staff fferyllfeydd yn gasglwyr trethi?
I will attempt to twist this around to meet Glyn Davies’s original question about hip replacements. Last week, I announced our measures to reduce dental charges fraud, and I mentioned that we had instituted procedures for collection of prescription charges in pharmacies. It is vital that every public penny allocated to the health service is spent on services, and that we tackle fraud as well as deal with the cost of prescriptions by freezing prescription charges from next April. That is a key policy in the partnership agreement, which I know will be welcomed in this Chamber.
Rhoddaf gynnig ar droi’r ateb i fodloni cwestiwn gwreiddiol Glyn Davies am lawdriniaethau gosod clun newydd. Yr wythnos diwethaf, cyhoeddais ein cynlluniau i leihau twyll taliadau deintyddol, a chrybwyllais ein bod wedi sefydlu gweithdrefnau ar gyfer casglu taliadau presgripsiwn mewn fferyllfeydd. Mae’n hanfodol y caiff pob ceiniog a ddyrennir i’r gwasanaeth iechyd ei gwario ar wasanaethau, ac yr awn i’r afael â thwyll yn ogystal ag ymdrin â chost presgripsiynau drwy rewi taliadau presgripsiynau o fis Ebrill nesaf. Mae hwnnw’n bolisi allweddol yn y cytundeb partneriaeth, a gwn y’i croesewir yn y Siambr hon.
Rhoi Statws Ymddiriedolaeth i Grwpiau Iechyd Lleol
Giving Local Health Groups Trust Status
When will local health groups be given the choice of taking on trust status? (OAQ8099)
Pryd y caiff grwpiau iechyd lleol ddewis a ydynt am dderbyn statws fel ymddiriedolaeth? (OAQ8099)
The future development of local health groups must proceed in a way that continues to meet Welsh circumstances. Local health groups are working closely with their host health authorities to agree a clear development plan, clarify delegated responsibilities, set out planned new responsibilities and to provide a framework on which they can build further. These issues are being considered in NHS Wales and the primary care strategy. There is no push for trust status in Wales.
Rhaid i ddatblygiad grwpiau iechyd lleol yn y dyfodol fynd rhagddo mewn ffordd sydd yn parhau i fodloni anghenion Cymru. Mae grwpiau iechyd lleol yn cydweithio’n agos gyda’u hawdurdodau iechyd cysylltiedig i gytuno ar gynllun datblygu clir, egluro cyfrifoldebau dirprwyedig, nodi cyfrifoldebau newydd a gynlluniwyd a darparu fframwaith y gallant adeiladu ymhellach arno. Ystyrir y materion hyn yn NHS Cymru a’r strategaeth gofal sylfaenol. Nid oes pwysau i gael statws ymddiriedolaeth yng Nghymru.
The Audit Commission’s report on local health groups in Wales identified that 20 per cent of those groups wanted the choice of obtaining trust status. Local health groups in England have that choice. Why is it not available in Wales?
Nododd adroddiad y Comisiwn Archwilio ar grwpiau iechyd lleol yng Nghymru bod 20 y cant o’r grwpiau hynny am gael y dewis o gael statws ymddiriedolaeth. Mae grwpiau iechyd lleol yn Lloegr yn cael y dewis hwnnw. Pam nad yw ar gael yng Nghymru?
As I said, David, this is part of the NHS Wales strategy and the primary care strategy that the Assembly will debate early in the new year. I am reflecting the majority view that we have received. David was present when the Health and Social Service Committee discussed this, and the strong view was that this involves services and evolution. We must not get hung up on structures. That is the key point. We are not moving automatically towards trust status. We must consider how local health groups can deliver and have a more powerful role.
Fel y dywedais, David, mae’n rhan o strategaeth NHS Cymru a’r strategaeth gofal sylfaenol y bydd y Cynulliad yn ei thrafod ar ddechrau’r flwyddyn newydd. Adlewyrchaf y farn fwyafrifol a dderbyniasom. Yr oedd David yn bresennol pan drafododd y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol y mater, a’r farn gryf oedd bod hyn yn cynnwys gwasanaethau ac esblygu. Rhaid inni beidio â chanolbwyntio’n ormodol ar strwythurau. Dyna’r pwynt allweddol. Ni symudwn yn awtomatig tuag at statws ymddiriedolaeth. Rhaid inni ystyried sut y gall grwpiau iechyd lleol gyflwyno a chael rôl fwy pwerus.
Is Jane aware of the widespread disappointment in Alyn and Deeside at the recent announcement by North Wales Health Authority of the proposed closure of Meadowslea and Dobshill rehabilitation hospitals? Will she ensure that full consideration will be given to the provision of much needed community hospital facilities in Alyn and Deeside, particularly serving the large communities of Buckley and Penyffordd? Will she also ensure that the views of the local health group will be central to those considerations?
A yw Jane yn ymwybodol o’r siom cyffredinol yn Alyn a Glannau Dyfrdwy yn sgîl cyhoeddiad diweddar Awdurdod Iechyd Gogledd Cymru ynghylch y bwriad i gau ysbytai adfer Meadowslea a Dobshill? A wnaiff hi sicrhau y rhoddir ystyriaeth lawn i ddarparu cyfleusterau ysbyty cymunedol sydd eu hangen yn fawr yn Alyn a Glannau Dyfrdwy, yn arbennig i wasanaethu cymunedau mawr Bwcle a Phenyffordd? A wnaiff hi hefyd sicrhau y bydd safbwyntiau’r grŵp iechyd lleol yn ganolog i’r ystyriaethau hynny?
Tom will know that Barry Jones, the local MP, and I met the residents and community councillors of those communities earlier this year. We discussed issues concerning services in that area. The health authority’s decision follows extensive consultation led by the community health council, which approved changes including an increase in services in Deeside Community Hospital and Wrexham Maelor Hospital. I agree that we need to consider services, particularly in the Buckley area. That was brought to my attention at that meeting earlier this year.
Fel y gŵyr Tom, bu i Barry Jones, yr AS lleol, a minnau gwrdd â thrigolion a chynghorwyr cymuned y cymunedau hynny yn gynharach eleni. Trafodasom faterion yn ymwneud â gwasanaethau yn yr ardal honno. Daw penderfyniad yr awdurdod iechyd yn sgîl ymgynghoriad eang o dan arweiniad y cyngor iechyd cymuned, a gymeradwyodd newidiadau gan gynnwys cynnydd mewn gwasanaethau yn Ysbyty Cymunedol Glannau Dyfrdwy ac Ysbyty Wrecsam Maelor. Cytunaf fod angen inni ystyried gwasanaethau, yn arbennig yn ardal Bwcle. Tynnwyd fy sylw at hynny yn y cyfarfod hwnnw yn gynharach eleni.
Fel Gweinidog dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, a oes gan Jane weledigaeth glir ynghylch datblygiad grwpiau iechyd lleol?
As Minister for Health and Social Services, does Jane have a clear vision on the way forward regarding the development of local health groups?
It is important that we bear in mind our discussions in the Health and Social Services Committee with representatives from local health groups and health authorities. We must consider this as a matter of evolution and developing a partnership. Yesterday, I launched the joint flexibilities that arise from the Health Act 1999, where health services and local government can work closer together and pool their finances to lead commissioning in health and social care. We are moving forward in partnership in Wales, without being too prescriptive about how that partnership develops. It is important that local health groups know that they have a strong future in terms of commissioning and of their role in ensuring that we have a primary care led health service. At this stage, it is not necessarily appropriate or wise to start talking about structures, reorganisations and more trusts. I know that your party, Dai, does not support that either. We must ensure that we progress with the development of local health groups according to their wishes.
Mae’n bwysig inni gofio ein trafodaethau yn y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol gyda chynrychiolwyr o grwpiau iechyd lleol ac awdurdodau iechyd. Rhaid inni ystyried hyn fel mater o esblygu a datblygu partneriaeth. Ddoe, lansiais y cyd-hyblygrwydd sydd yn deillio o Ddeddf Iechyd 1999, lle gall gwasanaethau iechyd a llywodraeth leol gydweithio’n agosach a chyfuno eu cyllidebau i arwain gwaith comisiynu ym maes iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol. Symudwn ymlaen mewn partneriaeth yng Nghymru, heb fod yn rhy benodol am y ffordd y datblyga’r bartneriaeth honno. Mae’n bwysig bod grwpiau iechyd lleol yn gwybod bod ganddynt ddyfodol cadarn yn nhermau comisiynu a’u rôl wrth sicrhau bod gennym wasanaeth iechyd a nodweddir yn bennaf gan ofal sylfaenol. Ar hyn o bryd, nid yw o reidrwydd yn briodol nac yn ddoeth dechrau sôn am strwythurau, ad-drefnu a mwy o ymddiriedolaethau. Gwn nad yw eich plaid chi, Dai, yn cefnogi hynny ychwaith. Rhaid inni sicrhau ein bod yn mynd rhagddo i ddatblygu grwpiau iechyd lleol yn unol â’u dymuniadau.
Adrannau Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol (Diwallu’r Galw dros Fisoedd y Gaeaf)
Social Service Departments (Meeting Demands over the Winter Months)
A wnaiff Jane Hutt ddatganiad byr ynghylch paratoadau’r adrannau gwasanaethau cymdeithasol ar gyfer diwallu’r galw dros fisoedd y gaeaf? (OAQ8156)
Will Jane Hutt make a brief statement on the preparations made by social service departments to meet demand over the winter months? (OAQ8156)
Social services departments were asked to follow the guidance issued in the summer by the emergency pressures taskforce. They have been working in partnership with health authorities to devise winter planning arrangements. I have recently met local authority representatives from each health authority area to review progress, and have written to authorities to underline the importance of planning arrangements. We have introduced arrangements to monitor delayed discharge from hospital and the district audit service is currently undertaking a review of preparedness. We are maintaining contact with all 22 authorities so that we obtain information on issues relating to emergency pressures. The authorities are represented on my winter pressures team.
Gofynnwyd i adrannau’r gwasanaethau cymdeithasol ddilyn yr arweiniad a gyhoeddwyd yn ystod yr haf gan y tasglu pwysau brys. Buont yn gweithio mewn partneriaeth ag awdurdodau iechyd i lunio trefniadau cynllunio ar gyfer y gaeaf. Yn ddiweddar cyfarfûm â chynrychiolwyr awdurdodau lleol o bob ardal awdurdod iechyd i adolygu cynnydd, ac ysgrifennais at awdurdodau i danlinellu pwysigrwydd trefniadau cynllunio. Cyflwynasom drefniadau i fonitro oedi wrth ryddhau cleifion o’r ysbyty ac mae’r gwasanaeth archwiliadau dosbarth wrthi ar hyn o bryd yn cynnal arolwg o barodrwydd. Yr ydym yn cadw mewn cysylltiad â phob un o’r 22 awdurdod er mwyn cael gwybodaeth ar faterion sydd yn ymwneud â phwysau brys. Mae cynrychiolwyr o’r awdurdodau yn fy nhîm pwysau gaeaf.
A yw’r Gweinidog yn cytuno y byddai darpariaeth ar alw digonol o wasanaethau cymdeithasol y tu hwnt i oriau gwaith arferol yn lleihau’r galw i anfon yr henoed i ysbyty yn ddiangen ac yn lleihau’r pwysau ar welyau mewn ysbytai?
Does the Minister agree that sufficient on-call provision of social services outside normal working hours would reduce the demand to send elderly people to hospital unnecessarily and would reduce the burden on beds in hospitals?
That is an extremely important point that emerged quickly following last year’s winter pressures. The development of rapid response teams that provide a service out of hours as well as during office hours provides the emergency contact to enable people to stay at home rather than end up in hospital.
Mae hwnnw’n bwynt pwysig iawn a ddaeth i’r amlwg yn gyflym yn dilyn y pwysau yn ystod y gaeaf y llynedd. Mae datblygu timau ymateb cyflym sydd yn darparu gwasanaeth y tu hwnt i oriau gwaith arferol yn ogystal ag yn ystod oriau swyddfa yn darparu’r cyswllt brys i alluogi pobl i aros gartref yn hytrach na gorfod mynd i’r ysbyty.
Our emergency pressure plans are about keeping people well, warm and supported at home. That requires the work of social services as well as GPs and nurses in the community to ensure that if people are admitted to hospital, we are already discussing how they can return home and have support in their home and in their community. It is about ensuring that social services work with the health service at the sharp end. As a result of the Health Act 1999, the flexibilities will enable us to do that.
Mae ein cynlluniau pwysau brys yn ymwneud â chadw pobl yn iach, yn gynnes a rhoi cymorth iddynt yn eu cartrefi. Mae hynny’n gofyn am waith y gwasanaethau cymdeithasol yn ogystal â meddygon teulu a nyrsys yn y gymuned er mwyn sicrhau os derbynnir pobl i’r ysbyty, ein bod eisoes yn trafod sut y gallant ddychwelyd adref a chael cymorth yn eu cartref ac yn eu cymuned. Mae’n ymwneud â sicrhau bod y gwasanaethau cymdeithasol yn gweithio gyda’r gwasanaeth iechyd ble y mae’r angen mwyaf. O ganlyniad i Ddeddf Iechyd 1999, bydd yr hyblygrwydd yn ein galluogi i wneud hynny.
Does the Minister, therefore, recognise the important role of the private sector in ensuring that demand is met over the busy winter months? Will she ensure that patient demand is put before political dogma and that the private sector is utilised whenever that is appropriate?
A yw’r Gweinidog, felly, yn cydnabod rôl bwysig y sector preifat wrth sicrhau y caiff y galw ei ateb dros fisoedd prysur y gaeaf? A wnaiff hi sicrhau y rhoddir blaenoriaeth i ofynion cleifion yn hytrach na dogma gwleidyddol ac y defnyddir y sector preifat lle bynnag y bo hynny’n briodol?
I do not know where this political dogma comes from. It only seems to come from you and your side of the Chamber. As far as I am concerned, the independent sector has a key role to play and not just during the winter pressures. We had a good debate a few weeks ago about the Care Standards Act 2000, in which we noted the value of the independent private sector’s role in the provision of nursing homes. Some of the additional money that comes through to health authorities and social services will fund the packages to enable people to move into the nursing homes’ sector when they are ready. That is there in black and white in terms of the figures and the money that is going through but, also, the independent private sector in nursing home care knows what we do to support them.
Ni wn o ble y daw’r dogma gwleidyddol hwn. Ymddengys mai dim ond gennych chi a’ch ochr chi o’r Siambr y daw. Yn fy marn i, mae gan y sector annibynnol ran allweddol i’w chwarae ac nid yn unig yn ystod pwysau’r gaeaf. Cawsom ddadl dda rai wythnosau yn ôl ynghylch Deddf Safonau Gofal 2000, lle y nodwyd gwerth rôl y sector preifat annibynnol wrth ddarparu cartrefi nyrsio. Bydd rhywfaint o’r arian ychwanegol a gaiff yr awdurdodau iechyd a’r gwasanaethau cymdeithasol yn ariannu’r pecynnau i alluogi pobl i symud i’r sector cartrefi nyrsio pan fyddant yn barod. Mae hynny wedi’i nodi’n ysgrifenedig o ran y ffigurau a’r arian a gaiff ei drosglwyddo ond, hefyd, mae’r sector preifat annibynnol ym maes gofal cartrefi nyrsio yn ymwybodol o’r hyn a wnawn i’w cynnal.
Jane, do you agree that the private sector plays a role in the emergency winter pressures taskforce and will you congratulate the north Wales area for the vital part that the independent private sector plays in that and in the planning issues? Perhaps David should come to see the work that is done with the independent private sector in north Wales.
Jane, a gytunwch fod y sector preifat yn chwarae rhan yn y tasglu pwysau gaeaf brys ac a longyfarchwch ardal gogledd Cymru am y rhan hanfodol a chwaraea’r sector preifat annibynnol yn hyn o beth ac yn y materion cynllunio? Efallai y dylai David ddod i weld y gwaith sydd yn mynd rhagddo gyda’r sector preifat annibynnol yng ngogledd Cymru.
The independent sector in north Wales has set up a helpline that will work directly with the health authorities so that it can inform them when they have beds available. The health authorities and the local authorities can liaise with them directly. That is a good example of the independent sector work.
Sefydlodd y sector annibynnol yng ngogledd Cymru linell gymorth a fydd yn gweithio’n uniongyrchol gyda’r awdurdodau iechyd i’w hysbysu pan fydd gwelyau ar gael ganddynt. Gall yr awdurdodau iechyd a’r awdurdodau lleol drafod yn uniongyrchol â hwy. Mae hynny’n enghraifft dda o waith y sector annibynnol.
The independent sector plays a key role throughout Wales, not just with regard to winter pressures but all year round with the provision of services.
Chwaraea’r sector annibynnol ran allweddol ledled Cymru, nid yn unig o ran pwysau’r gaeaf ond drwy gydol y flwyddyn wrth ddarparu gwasanaethau.
Cwestiynau i’r Gweinidog dros Addysg a Dysgu Gydol Oes
Questions to the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning
Darpariaeth ar gyfer Disgyblion sydd wedi’u Gwahardd yn Barhaol
Provision for Permanently Excluded Pupils
What is the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning’s assessment of the provision currently being made for pupils who have been permanently excluded? (OAQ8052)
Beth yw asesiad y Gweinidog dros Addysg a Dysgu Gydol Oes o’r ddarpariaeth a wneir ar hyn o bryd ar gyfer disgyblion sydd wedi’u gwahardd yn barhaol? (OAQ8052)
Jane Davidson The Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning spoken in English p. 14
Jane Davidson Y Gweinidog dros Addysgu a Dysgu Gydol Oes siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 14
Local education authorities have a duty to make arrangements for the provision of suitable education at school, or otherwise, for pupils who have been permanently excluded. Although current levels in types of provision vary, we have required local education authorities under National Assembly for Wales circular 3/99 Pupil Support and Social Inclusion to take action by September 2002 to ensure that all pupils who are excluded for more than 15 days receive full time and appropriate education. Recent information on the alternative provision made for permanently excluded pupils show that most are either integrated into a mainstream or special school, placed in a pupil referral unit or provided with home tuition.
Mae dyletswydd ar awdurdodau addysg lleol i wneud trefniadau ar gyfer darparu addysg addas yn yr ysgol, neu fel arall, ar gyfer disgyblion sydd wedi’u gwahardd yn barhaol. Er yr amrywia lefelau cyfredol y mathau o ddarpariaeth, mae’n ofynnol i awdurdodau addysg lleol o dan gylchlythyr 3/99 Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, Cynnal Disgyblion a Chynhwysiant Cymdeithasol weithredu erbyn mis Medi 2002 i sicrhau y derbynia pob disgybl a waherddir am fwy na 15 niwrnod addysg llawn amser a phriodol. Dengys gwybodaeth ddiweddar am y ddarpariaeth amgen a wneir ar gyfer disgyblion a waherddir yn barhaol y caiff y rhan fwyaf ohonynt eu hintegreiddio i ysgol brif ffrwd neu ysgol arbennig, eu gosod mewn uned cyfeirio disgyblion neu y darperir tiwtoriaeth yn y cartref iddynt.
Is it not the case that provision often falls far below acceptable standards? Does the Minister recognise the great danger that unless adequate provision is made for pupils who have been permanently excluded, the underlying causes of the problems which have led to unacceptable behaviour in the first place are likely to be exacerbated? Is the Minister giving active consideration to issuing new guidelines to local authorities, which would draw their attention to the problem of young boys, in particular, who have been excluded and warn the authorities that permanent exclusion from school should be a trigger to ensure that full, proper and adequate provision is made and not used as an excuse for them to wash their hands of intractable problems?
Onid yw’n wir fod y ddarpariaeth yn aml yn llawer is na’r safonau derbyniol? A yw’r Gweinidog yn cydnabod y perygl mawr y gallai’r hyn a achosodd y problemau a arweiniodd at ymddygiad annerbyniol yn y lle cyntaf waethygu oni gynigir darpariaeth ddigonol ar gyfer disgyblion sydd wedi’u gwahardd yn barhaol? A yw’r Gweinidog yn ystyried cyhoeddi canllawiau newydd i awdurdodau lleol, a fyddai’n tynnu eu sylw yn arbennig at broblem bechgyn ifanc sydd wedi’u gwahardd ac yn rhybuddio’r awdurdodau y dylai gwahardd yn barhaol o’r ysgol fod yn sbardun i sicrhau y cynigir darpariaeth lawn, cywir a digonol ac na chaiff ei ddefnyddio fel esgus iddynt droi eu cefnau ar broblemau anodd?
I agree that we have a major problem and that is why we have set an ambitious target to reduce the exclusions by a third by 2002. The reason that we have gone for 2002 is that it will take time to put the appropriate measures into place. We are on track for achieving that reduction. We have over £3 million of grants for education support and training funding this year to examine issues related to school attendance and behaviour. That will increase to nearly £10 million next year, which acknowledges the interest that the Government and the Committee have shown in this issue.
Cytunaf fod gennym broblem fawr a dyna pam ein bod wedi gosod targed uchelgeisiol i sicrhau gostyngiad o draean mewn gwaharddiadau erbyn 2002. Y rheswm dros ddewis 2002 oedd y bydd yn cymryd amser i sefydlu mesurau priodol. Yr ydym ar y llwybr cywir i gyflawni’r gostyngiad hwnnw. Mae gennym dros £3 miliwn o grantiau i ariannu cymorth addysg a hyfforddiant eleni i archwilio materion sydd yn ymwneud â phresenoldeb yn yr ysgol ac ymddygiad. Bydd hynny’n cynyddu i bron £10 miliwn y flwyddyn nesaf, sydd yn cydnabod y diddordeb a ddangosodd y Llywodraeth a’r Pwyllgor yn y mater hwn.
Sut y bydd y Ddeddf Hawliau Dynol yn effeithio ar y ddarpariaeth a wneir ar gyfer disgyblion sydd wedi’u gwahardd yn barhaol?
How will the Human Rights Act affect the provision that is made for pupils who have been permanently excluded?
Gwasanaethau Addysg ym Mhowys
Education Services in Powys
Q2 Nick Bourne The Leader of the Welsh Conservatives spoken in English p. 15
C2 Nick Bourne Arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 15
Will Jane Davidson make a statement on education services in Powys? (OAQ8102)
A wnaiff Jane Davidson ddatganiad ar wasanaethau addysg ym Mhowys? (OAQ8102)
School education is provided by Powys County Council and further education is provided by Coleg Powys. Pupils’ attainment in Powys is above the Welsh average. In 2000, 55 per cent of pupils obtained five general certificate of secondary education grades A to C, compared to the Welsh average of 49 per cent; 87 per cent of pupils obtained five GCSE grades A to G compared to the Welsh average of 85 per cent. The results of national curriculum tests at key stages 1, 2 and 3 are not yet available for 2000. In 1999, pupils in Powys performed above the Welsh average at all stages and in all subjects. I pay my personal tribute to all those pupils in Powys whose performance was announced yesterday, because there is clearly a superb education system in the county and the pupils are doing well.
Darperir addysg ysgol gan Gyngor Sir Powys a darperir addysg bellach gan Goleg Powys. Mae cyrhaeddiad disgyblion ym Mhowys yn uwch na chyfartaledd Cymru. Yn 2000, enillodd 55 y cant o’r disgyblion bum tystysgrif gyffredinol addysg uwchradd graddau A i C, o’i gymharu â chyfartaledd Cymru o 49 y cant; enillodd 87 y cant o’r disgyblion bum TGAU gradd A i G o’i gymharu â chyfartaledd Cymru o 85 y cant. Nid yw canlyniadau profion y cwricwlwm cenedlaethol yng nghyfnodau allweddol 1, 2 a 3 ar gyfer 2000 ar gael eto. Yn 1999, perfformiodd disgyblion ym Mhowys yn uwch na chyfartaledd Cymru ym mhob cyfnod a phwnc. Hoffwn dalu teyrnged bersonol i’r holl ddisgyblion hynny ym Mhowys y cyhoeddwyd canlyniadau eu perfformiad ddoe, gan ei bod yn amlwg bod system addysg ardderchog yn y sir a bod y disgyblion yn gwneud yn dda.
The community consortia in Powys have made a good start for education and training in planning for integrated post-16 provision.
Mae’r consortia cymunedol ym Mhowys wedi gwneud dechrau da ar gyfer addysg a hyfforddiant wrth gynllunio ar gyfer darpariaeth ôl-16 integredig.
I would like to join you in congratulating the above average performance in Powys. One problem that Powys has is its small, excellent rural schools—the problem being in their smallness and the rurality, not their excellence. Have you thought about having a consistent approach throughout Wales? We do not have a co-ordinated approach at the moment, and the minimum size varies from area to area. Have you had any thoughts on that?
Hoffwn ymuno â chi wrth longyfarch y perfformiad uwch na’r cyfartaledd ym Mhowys. Un broblem sydd gan Powys yw ei ysgolion bach, gwledig rhagorol—y broblem yw eu maint a’r natur wledig, nid eu rhagoriaeth. A ydych wedi ystyried sefydlu ymagwedd gyson ledled Cymru? Nid oes gennym ymagwedd gydlynol ar hyn o bryd, ac mae’r isafswm maint yn amrywio o ardal i ardal. Beth yw eich barn am hynny?
As you heard in the ‘Queen’s speech’ that Rhodri made last week, we have made a particular commitment to look at small schools in rural and urban areas. That is not only within the terms of the partnership agreement, but in terms of this year also. I am pleased that the Committee is considering issues related to the supply of school places at the moment and has already heard evidence from the Small Schools Association. We in the Assembly want to keep small schools going, and consider other ways of contributing to any space available in small schools, perhaps to increase their community input generally.
Fel y clywsoch yn ‘araith y Frenhines’ gan Rhodri yr wythnos diwethaf, gwnaethom ymrwymiad penodol i edrych ar ysgolion bach mewn ardaloedd gwledig a threfol. Nid yw hynny o fewn termau’r cytundeb partneriaeth yn unig, ond yn nhermau eleni hefyd. Yr wyf yn falch bod y Pwyllgor wrthi’n ystyried materion sydd yn ymwneud â’r cyflenwad o lefydd ysgol ar hyn o bryd a’i fod eisoes wedi clywed tystiolaeth gan y Gymdeithas Ysgolion Bach. Yr ydym ni yn y Cynulliad am gynnal ysgolion bach, ac ystyried ffyrdd eraill o gyfrannu at unrhyw le sydd ar gael mewn ysgolion bach, efallai er mwyn cynyddu mewnbwn eu cymunedau yn gyffredinol.
Finally, research has been conducted on small schools in Ceredigion. I want to consider that research in terms of how it can be applied to other areas in Wales.
Yn olaf, cynhaliwyd ymchwil ar ysgolion bach yng Ngheredigion. Yr wyf am ystyried yr ymchwil honno yn nhermau sut y gellir ei chymhwyso i ardaloedd eraill yng Nghymru.
Next Tuesday, Powys County Council will begin to consider the future of two of those very small schools, in Libanus and in Trecastle. Can you give a commitment today that this partnership Government will move forward on that rural schools strategy, and is committed to keeping small, rural community schools open?
Ddydd Mawrth nesaf, bydd Cyngor Sir Powys yn dechrau ystyried dyfodol dwy o’r ysgolion bach iawn hynny, yn Libanus ac yn Nhrecastell. A allwch wneud ymrwymiad heddiw y bydd y Llywodraeth bartneriaeth hon yn symud y strategaeth ysgolion gwledig honno ymlaen, a’i bod yn ymrwymedig i gadw ysgolion cymuned bach, gwledig ar agor?
I have already stated that we are committed to looking at the whole issue of small schools. I was pleased at last year’s decision not to close Libanus. This means that there are other opportunities of looking at the way we deal with small schools. As you know, the authority is looking at its policy on school closures. I will be interested in the outcome of that review.
Datganais eisoes ein bod yn ymrwymedig i ystyried mater ysgolion bach yn ei gyfanrwydd. Yr oeddwn yn falch pan benderfynwyd y llynedd i beidio â chau Libanus. Golyga hyn fod cyfleoedd eraill o ystyried y ffordd yr ydym yn delio ag ysgolion bach. Fel y gwyddoch, mae’r awdurdod yn ystyried ei bolisi ar gau ysgolion. Bydd gennyf ddiddordeb yng nghanlyniad yr adolygiad hwnnw.
Going back to your question of last week, I have agreed to come and see some of these schools in Powys.
Gan ddychwelyd at eich cwestiwn yr wythnos diwethaf, cytunais i ddod i weld rhai o’r ysgolion hyn ym Mhowys.
A yw Cyngor Sir Powys wedi bod mewn cysylltiad â chi i drafod sefyllfa ariannol gwasanaeth addysg y sir ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf? Mae cyngor Powys yn dweud y bydd diffyg o £937,000 yn ei gyllid y flwyddyn nesaf. Er mwyn cynnal ei sail bresennol a bodloni ymrwymiadau megis cyflogau athrawon, gofynion anghenion arbennig, ac yn y blaen, a chyda gofynion eraill am dwf, bydd diffyg o £1.8 miliwn. Sut yn y byd y gallwch esbonio sefyllfa o’r fath pan fo sôn am gynyddu’r gyllideb addysg yn sylweddol yng Nghymru?
Has Powys County Council been in touch with you to discuss the financial situation of the county’s education services for next year? Powys council says that there will be a shortfall of £937,000 in its budget next year. If it is to maintain its current position of strength, and meet commitments such as teachers’ wages, special needs requirements, and so on, and with the other requirements for growth, there will be a shortfall of £1.8 million. How on earth can you explain that sort of situation when there is talk of a substantial increase in the education budget in Wales?
This goes back to the central tenet that we always refer to in this Chamber: the decision of how education is funded is a matter for the local authority. It decides how much it will put into education. We agreed a revamped spending assesment formula in this Chamber for this year, that redistributes money in a way that is acceptable to the majority of Assembly Members. In any redistribution there are winners and losers. I am confident that Powys’s commitment to education will mean that the quality of education in the county will continue.
Mae hyn yn dychwelyd at y gred ganolog y cyfeiriwn ati’n gyson yn y Siambr hon: mater i’r awdurdod lleol yw penderfynu sut y caiff addysg ei ariannu. Yr awdurdod sydd yn penderfynu faint i’w roi i addysg. Cytunasom ar fformwla asesu gwariant newydd yn y Siambr hon ar gyfer eleni, sydd yn ailddosbarthu arian mewn ffordd sydd yn dderbyniol i fwyafrif Aelodau’r Cynulliad. Wrth ailddosbarthu bydd pobl ar eu hennill ac yn colli. Yr wyf yn hyderus y bydd ymrwymiad Powys i addysg yn golygu y bydd ansawdd yr addysg yn y sir yn parhau.
Datblygu Meysydd Llafur Cymreig ar gyfer Disgyblion Ysgol yng Nghymru
Developing Welsh Curricula for School Pupils in Wales
A wnaiff Jane Davidson ddatganiad ar ddatblygiad meysydd llafur Cymreig ar gyfer disgyblion ysgol yng Nghymru? (OAQ8168)
Will Jane Davidson make a statement on the development of Welsh curricula for school pupils in Wales? (OAQ8168)
The revised national curriculum for Wales was debated and approved by the Assembly on 19 January 2000 and implemented in September 2000. It was the first to have been developed in Wales and designed to meet the distinctive characteristics and educational needs in Wales. You will be aware that it took place after a two-year review. I am delighted, although not surprised, that it has been so warmly welcomed by Assembly Members and teachers throughout Wales. In ‘Putting Wales First’ we have made a commitment to pilot the Welsh baccalaureate. I am sure that you were pleased to hear Edwina Hart’s announcement yesterday of £600,000 for that pilot in 2001-02, which will cover the set-up costs.
Trafodwyd a chymeradwywyd y maes llafur cenedlaethol diwygiedig ar gyfer Cymru gan y Cynulliad ar 19 Ionawr 2000 ac fe’i gweithredwyd ym Medi 2000. Hwn oedd y cyntaf i gael ei ddatblygu yng Nghymru ac fe’i cynlluniwyd i gwrdd â’r nodweddion neilltuol a’r anghenion addysgiadol yng Nghymru. Byddwch yn ymwybodol i hynny ddigwydd ar ôl adolygiad dwy flynedd. Yr wyf wrth fy modd, er nad wyf yn synnu, iddo gael ei groesawu mor frwd gan Aelodau’r Cynulliad ac athrawon ledled Cymru. Yn ‘Rhoi Cymru’n Gyntaf’ yr ydym wedi ymrwymo i gynnal cynllun peilot o’r fagloriaeth Gymreig. Yr wyf yn siŵr eich bod yn falch o glywed Edwina Hart ddoe yn cyhoeddi y bydd £600,000 ar gael ar gyfer y cynllun peilot hwnnw yn 2001-02, a fydd yn cwrdd â’r costau sefydlu.
Croesawaf y cyhoeddiad ynglŷn â’r fagloriaeth Gymreig. A yw Jane yn ymwybodol bod adolygiad yn digwydd o feysydd llafar Saesneg a llenyddiaeth Saesneg ar gyfer TGAU? Dim ond ar ôl cwblhau’r meysydd llafar drafft ym Mehefin 2000 y rhoddwyd gwybod i Awdurdod Cymwysterau, Cwricwlwm ac Asesu Cymru. A yw’n cytuno y dylid mynd ati ar unwaith yn awr i lunio maes llafur penodol i Gymru a fyddai’n cynnwys, er enghraifft, llenyddiaeth Eingl-Gymreig fel elfen bwysig o fewn llenyddiaeth Saesneg? Yn ogystal, a yw’n fodlon cyfarwyddo ACCAC i gydweithio gyda Chyd-bwyllgor Addysg Cymru i ddechrau ar y gwaith pwysig hwn ar fyrder?
I welcome the announcement regarding the Welsh baccalaureate. Is Jane aware that a review is underway of English language and literature curricula for GCSE? It was only after completing the draft curricula in June 2000 that the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Council for Wales was informed. Does she agree that we should now proceed at once to develop a specific curriculum for Wales that would include, for example, Anglo-Welsh literature as an important element of English literature? In addition, is she prepared to instruct ACCAC to work with the Welsh Joint Education Committee so that this important work can commence as a matter of urgency?
There has been a two-year review and it was the first to be conducted in Wales, and wholly for Wales. That is reflected in distinctly Welsh elements of the programmes of study, for example, Welsh history, Welsh geography, Welsh literature, Welsh art and Welsh music. It has been warmly welcomed across Wales and I am content with the present situation.
Bu adolygiad dwy flynedd a hwn oedd y cyntaf i gael ei gynnal yng Nghymru, ac yn gyfan gwbl ar gyfer Cymru. Adlewyrchir hynny mewn elfennau o’r rhaglenni astudiaeth sydd yn benodol Gymreig, er enghraifft, hanes Cymru, daearyddiaeth Cymru, llenyddiaeth Cymru, celf Cymru a cherddoriaeth Cymru. Fe’i croesawyd yn gynnes ledled Cymru ac yr wyf yn fodlon â’r sefyllfa bresennol.
Does the Minister agree that matters relating to racial awareness, especially following the Macpherson report, need to be mainstreamed into the curriculum and contained in subjects such as history, English and geography?
A yw’r Gweinidog yn cytuno bod angen i faterion sydd yn ymwneud ag ymwybyddiaeth hiliol, yn arbennig yn dilyn adroddiad Macpherson, gael eu cyflwyno i brif ffrwd y maes llafur a’u cynnwys mewn pynciau megis hanes, Saesneg a daearyddiaeth?
Yes. One issue that the Assembly has considered across the range of its services over the last few months is how we integrate basic principles about rights, gender, and ethnicity in all that we do. I am happy to look at the curriculum to ensure that is considered in that context.
Ydwyf. Un mater a ystyriwyd gan y Cynulliad ar draws ystod ei wasanaethau dros yr ychydig fisoedd diwethaf yw sut yr integreiddiwn egwyddorion sylfaenol ynglŷn â hawliau, rhyw, ac ethnigrwydd ym mhopeth a wnawn. Yr wyf yn fodlon edrych ar y maes llafur i sicrhau y caiff hynny ei ystyried yn y cyd-destun hwnnw.
Sefydliadau yng Nghymru (Anfantais Gystadleuol yn y Farchnad Addysg Uwch)
Institutions in Wales (Competitive Disadvantage in the Higher Education Market)
What action is Jane Davidson taking to ensure that institutions in Wales are not at a competitive disadvantage within the broader higher education market? (OAQ8126)
Pa gamau y mae Jane Davidson yn eu cymryd i sicrhau nad yw sefydliadau Cymru yn wynebu anfantais gystadleuol o fewn y farchnad addysg uwch ehangach? (OAQ8126)
As stated in our partnership agreement, we are committed to establishing a strong future for the Welsh higher education sector by producing a 10-year strategy for adequately funded development and expansion. Funding for the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales will be increased by £16 million by 2003-04. That is in addition to the excellent settlement the sector received in 2000-01 from the comprehensive spending review.
Fel y nodwyd yn ein cytundeb partneriaeth, yr ydym yn ymrwymedig i sefydlu dyfodol cryf ar gyfer y sector addysg uwch yng Nghymru drwy gynhyrchu strategaeth 10 mlynedd ar gyfer proses ddatblygu ac ehangu a ariennir yn ddigonol. Cynyddir yr arian ar gyfer Cyngor Cyllido Addysg Uwch Cymru £16 miliwn erbyn 2003-04. Mae hynny yn ychwanegol at y setliad rhagorol a dderbyniodd y sector yn 2000-01 o’r adolygiad cynhwysfawr o wariant.
The Assembly is also allocating a further £10 million per annum, available under the knowledge exploitation fund, to boost the wealth creating capabilities of higher and further education institutions in Wales. The money will be used to accelerate the exploitation of research and development and other knowledge and expertise within our institutions. That will help the institutions to maximise their contribution to wealth, job creation and economic development in Wales.
Mae’r Cynulliad hefyd yn dyrannu £10 miliwn ychwanegol y flwyddyn, sydd ar gael o dan y gronfa datblygu gwybodaeth, er mwyn rhoi hwb i allu sefydliadau addysg uwch a phellach yng Nghymru i greu cyfoeth. Defnyddir yr arian i gyflymu’r broses o ymelwa ar ymchwil a datblygiad a gwybodaeth ac arbenigedd arall o fewn ein sefydliadau. Bydd hynny yn helpu’r sefydliadau i sicrhau’r cyfraniad mwyaf posibl i gyfoeth, creu swyddi a datblygu economaidd yng Nghymru.
Do you agree that the competitive market in education is damaging all sectors? Can you explain why you published school league tables yesterday? That is a practice created by the Tories and shamefully pursued by Labour. I remind you that you assured Pauline Jarman at the last South East Wales Regional Committee meeting that you would no longer name and shame schools. Will you undertake to abolish this practice immediately because it demoralises teachers and pupils?
A gytunwch fod y farchnad gystadleuol mewn addysg yn niweidio pob sector? A allwch esbonio pam y cyhoeddasoch dablau cynghrair ysgolion ddoe? Mae hynny’n arfer a grëwyd gan y Torïaid, ac y dilynwyd ei drywydd yn gywilyddus gan Lafur. Fe’ch atgoffaf ichi sicrhau Pauline Jarman yng nghyfarfod diwethaf Pwyllgor Rhanbarth y De-ddwyrain na fyddech mwyach yn enwi a chywilyddio ysgolion. A ymgymerwch i ddiddymu’r arfer hwn ar unwaith gan ei fod yn digalonni athrawon a disgyblion?
School league tables were published yesterday. That is, you call them school league tables. You must remember that the Welsh Office and now the Assembly have never published league tables. They have always published school management performance data.
Cyhoeddwyd tablau cynghrair ysgolion ddoe. Hynny yw, yr ydych chi’n eu galw’n dablau cynghrair ysgolion. Dylech gofio na chyhoeddodd y Swyddfa Gymreig a bellach y Cynulliad erioed dablau cynghrair. Maent bob amser wedi cyhoeddi data perfformiad rheoli ysgolion.
You will also be aware of a fact that you have conveniently chosen to forget, unless you have not been listening to the news over the last two days, namely that I am concerned about the blunt application of data that is only related to external examination results. I am committed to school improvement and, like my predecessor, I want to consider ways of looking at a value-added measure in the system. That includes whether or not we should consider how we document performance for primary schools—this is in the public domain, but different from the way we document performance for secondary schools—and whether or not we can find a way to track the improvement of pupils from the point at which they enter the school.
Byddwch hefyd yn ymwybodol o ffaith yr ydych wedi dewis ei hanghofio yn gyfleus, oni bai na fuoch yn gwrando ar y newyddion dros y deuddydd diwethaf, sef fy mod yn poeni am y ffordd y caiff data sydd dim ond yn ymwneud â chanlyniadau arholiadau allanol ei gymhwyso’n ddiseremoni. Yr wyf yn ymrwymedig i wella ysgolion ac, fel fy rhagflaenydd, yr wyf am ystyried ffyrdd o edrych ar fesur o ychwanegu gwerth yn y system. Mae hynny’n cynnwys pa un a ddylem ystyried sut y dogfennwn berfformiad ar gyfer ysgolion cynradd ai peidio—mae hyn yn llygad y cyhoedd, ond mae’n wahanol i’r modd y dogfennwn berfformiad ar gyfer ysgolion uwchradd—a pha un a allwn ddod o hyd i ffordd o olrhain gwelliant disgyblion o’r pwynt pan ddechreuant yn yr ysgol.
I congratulate the Minister for continuing the excellent Conservative policy of naming and shaming schools that fail. We do not mind what you call league tables. As long as you continue with the Conservative Party’s excellent policies, we will support you.
Llongyfarchaf y Gweinidog am barhau â’r polisi Ceidwadol rhagorol o enwi a chywilyddio ysgolion sydd yn methu. Nid oes gwahaniaeth gennym beth a alwch dablau cynghrair. Cyn belled ag y parhewch â pholisïau rhagorol y Blaid Geidwadol, fe’ch cefnogwn.
It is important to respond to that in a way that considers how divided the Conservative Party is on this matter. I sat at a table with a Conservative Member of Parliament, Nigel Evans, only two nights ago, when he reflected that we did not have value-added components, and that they should be included in the future. I ask the Welsh Conservatives to reflect on how blunt the instrument that we have at the moment and on what could be appropriate data for the future. I want an open consultation on this and I will be looking for contributions from Members, parents, teachers, unions, governors, schools and local education authorities on what they consider to be the best presentation of data for our pupils in Wales. As Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, I have a commitment to all pupils and schools in Wales. The Conservative Party never showed that commitment in establishing the current system.
Mae’n bwysig ymateb i hynny mewn modd sydd yn ystyried pa mor rhanedig yw’r Blaid Geidwadol ar y mater hwn. Eisteddais ar fwrdd gydag Aelod Seneddol Ceidwadol, Nigel Evans, dim ond ddwy noson yn ôl, pan ddywedodd nad oedd gennym elfennau ychwanegu gwerth, ac y dylid eu cynnwys yn y dyfodol. Gofynnaf i Geidwadwyr Cymru ystyried pa mor ddi-awch yw’r offeryn sydd gennym ar hyn o bryd a’r hyn a allai fod yn ddata priodol ar gyfer y dyfodol. Yr wyf am gael ymgynghoriad agored ar hyn a byddaf yn edrych am gyfraniadau gan Aelodau, rhieni, athrawon, undebau, llywodraethwyr, ysgolion ac awdurdodau addysg lleol ar yr hyn a ystyriant fel y ffordd orau o gyflwyno data ar gyfer ein disgyblion yng Nghymru. Fel Gweinidog Addysg a Dysgu Gydol Oes, mae gennyf ymrwymiad i bob disgybl ac ysgol yng Nghymru. Ni ddangosodd y Blaid Geidwadol erioed yr ymrwymiad hwnnw wrth sefydlu’r system bresennol.
Ymchwiliad Annibynnol i Galedi ac Ariannu Myfyrwyr
Independent Investigation into Student Hardship and Funding
When will Jane Davidson be in a position to announce the membership and terms of reference of the independent investigation into the issue of student hardship and funding in Wales? (OAQ8048)
Pryd y bydd Jane Davidson yn gallu cyhoeddi aelodaeth a chylch gwaith yr ymchwiliad annibynnol i galedi ac ariannu myfyrwyr yng Nghymru? (OAQ8048)
I will make a statement to Plenary on 5 December on the terms of reference and membership of the independent investigation into student hardship and funding in Wales. I will then report on the timing of the investigation to the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee on 13 December.
Gwnaf ddatganiad i’r Cyfarfod Llawn ar 5 Rhagfyr ar gylch gwaith ac aelodaeth yr ymchwiliad annibynnol i galedi ac ariannu myfyrwyr yng Nghymru. Yna cyflwynaf adroddiad ar amseru’r ymchwiliad i’r Pwyllgor Addysg a Dysgu Gydol Oes ar 13 Rhagfyr.
Will you take this opportunity to confirm that the commission will report its findings in spring 2001 in order that measures can be put in place to alleviate student hardship at the start of the next academic year?
A achubwch ar y cyfle hwn i gadarnhau y bydd y comisiwn yn cyflwyno adroddiad ar ei ganfyddiadau yng ngwanwyn 2001 er mwyn gallu sefydlu mesurau i liniaru caledi myfyrwyr ar ddechrau’r flwyddyn academaidd nesaf?
We are committed to report in 2001. I am not bringing the terms of reference and membership to the Assembly until next week because I want those who were selected to participate in the commission to have a chance to consider the terms of reference. It was agreed in Committee yesterday, usefully, that the report of the hardship review in spring 2001 would be considered in terms of the higher education strategy review on which we will report in November 2001. We are keeping those two reviews in synergy.
Yr ydym yn ymrwymedig i gyflwyno adroddiad yn 2001. Ni ddof â’r cylch gwaith a’r aelodaeth i’r Cynulliad tan yr wythnos nesaf gan fy mod am i’r rheini a ddetholwyd i gyfranogi yn y comisiwn gael cyfle i ystyried y cylch gwaith. Yr oedd yn ddefnyddiol i’r Pwyllgor gytuno ddoe y byddai’r adroddiad ar yr adolygiad caledi yng ngwanwyn 2001 yn cael ei ystyried yn nhermau’r adolygiad strategaeth addysg uwch y cyflwynwn adroddiad arno yn Nhachwedd 2001. Yr ydym yn cadw’r ddau adolygiad hynny mewn synergedd.
Will you commit this morning to invite student union organisations to participate in that review?
A ymrwymwch y bore yma i wahodd sefydliadau undebau myfyrwyr i gyfranogi yn yr adolygiad hwnnw?
Absolutely. It would be ludicrous to conduct a review without their participation.
Wrth gwrs. Byddai’n wallgof cynnal adolygiad heb eu cyfranogiad.
A yw’r Gweinidog yn derbyn bod nifer y myfyrwyr mewn addysg uwch wedi syrthio o ganlyniad i’r dreth ar addysg a gyflwynwyd gan y Llywodraeth Lafur ac sydd yn cael ei chuddio o dan yr enw ‘ffïoedd hyfforddi’?
Does the Minister accept that the number of students in higher education has fallen as a result of the tax on education introduced by the Labour Government, which is hidden under the name ‘tuition fees’?
No, because the number of students has increased. It is important that we have a positive story to tell in Wales, particularly about participation from those areas that have not traditionally participated. We have the best levels of participation from low participation areas in Britain. We need to take that forward positively in our agenda of widening participation. It is important that the review, in considering student hardship, also looks at how we can widen participation for potential students in Wales.
Nac ydwyf, oherwydd bod nifer y myfyrwyr wedi cynyddu. Mae’n bwysig bod gennym stori gadarnhaol i’w hadrodd yng Nghymru, yn arbennig ynglŷn â chyfranogiad o’r ardaloedd hynny nad ydynt wedi cyfranogi yn draddodiadol. Ni sydd â’r lefelau cyfranogi gorau o ardaloedd cyfranogi isel ym Mhrydain. Mae angen inni ddatblygu hynny yn gadarnhaol yn ein hagenda o gyfranogi ehangach. Mae’n bwysig bod yr adolygiad, wrth ystyried caledi myfyrwyr, hefyd yn edrych ar sut y gallwn ehangu cyfranogiad ar gyfer darpar fyfyrwyr yng Nghymru.
Will you also consult with the Benefits Agency so that the implications of overlapping benefits are understood from the beginning?
A ymgynghorwch hefyd â’r Asiantaeth Budd-daliadau er mwyn i oblygiadau budd-daliadau sydd yn gorgyffwrdd gael eu deall o’r dechrau?
If you recall, Gwenda, the decision was for this to be an independent review, but I am happy to send a copy of the record of the proceedings of this Plenary meeting to the chair of the review so Members’ comments today can be taken on board.
Os cofiwch, Gwenda, y penderfyniad oedd i hyn fod yn adolygiad annibynnol, ond yr wyf yn fodlon anfon copi o’r cofnod o drafodion y Cyfarfod Llawn hwn at gadeirydd yr adolygiad er mwyn i sylwadau’r Aelodau heddiw allu cael eu hystyried.
Cwestiynau i Bwyllgor y Tŷ
Questions to the House Committee
Adeilad y Pierhead
The Pierhead Building
Can the House Committee provide an update on the progress being made with the Pierhead building? (OAQ8183)
A all Pwyllgor y Tŷ roi’r newyddion diweddaraf ar y cynnydd a wneir ynglŷn ag adeilad y Pierhead? (OAQ8183)
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 23
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 23
It is expected that Pierhead will open as the Assembly’s visitor and education centre early in the new year. The internal fit-out work for the centre will be completed before Christmas and the exhibition is under construction. New members of staff have been recruited to work in the centre and are currently undergoing training.
Disgwylir i’r Pierhead agor fel canolfan ymwelwyr ac addysg y Cynulliad yn gynnar yn y flwyddyn newydd. Cwblheir y gwaith o osod offer a chelfi mewnol y ganolfan cyn y Nadolig ac mae’r arddangosfa wrthi’n cael ei gosod. Recriwtiwyd aelodau newydd o staff i weithio yn y ganolfan ac maent yn cael eu hyfforddi ar hyn o bryd.
On the exhibition, in view of the fact that an adviser on the display content of the Pierhead building announced to the staff of a local school that he knew nothing about Welsh history, can you confirm that the centre will provide information to enhance visitor appreciation of Welsh history?
O ran yr arddangosfa, yng ngoleuni’r ffaith i gynghorwr ar gynnwys arddangosfa adeilad y Pierhead gyhoeddi i staff ysgol leol na wyddai unrhyw beth am hanes Cymru, a allwch sicrhau y bydd y ganolfan yn darparu gwybodaeth i wella gwerthfawrogiad ymwelwyr o hanes Cymru?
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 23
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 23
I am sure that that point will be taken into account and I will look into it. I cannot tell you definitely if a substantial proportion of the exhibition will be on Welsh history, but I am sure that a portion will pertain to that subject.
Yr wyf yn siŵr yr ystyrir y pwynt hwnnw ac ymchwiliaf iddo. Ni allaf ddweud wrthych yn bendant pa un a fydd cyfran sylweddol o’r arddangosfa ar hanes Cymru, ond yr wyf yn siŵr y bydd rhan ohoni yn ymwneud â’r pwnc hwnnw.
Trefniadau Diogelwch
Security Arrangements
Will the House Committee review security arrangements for entry into the Assembly building? (OAQ8187)
A wnaiff Pwyllgor y Tŷ adolygu’r trefniadau diogelwch ar gyfer mynediad i adeilad y Cynulliad? (OAQ8187)
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 23
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 23
There are no current plans to do so.
Nid oes unrhyw gynlluniau i wneud hynny ar hyn o bryd.
We boast, with justification, that we are a family-friendly institution, therefore will the House Committee consider giving special permanent passes to the spouses and partners of Assembly Members, who often suffer long delays in visiting us at our work?
Ymffrostiwn, yn gyfiawn, ein bod yn sefydliad cyfeillgar i deuluoedd, felly a ystyria Pwyllgor y Tŷ roi pas parhaol arbennig i wŷr, gwragedd a phartneriaid Aelodau’r Cynulliad, sydd yn dioddef oedi hir yn aml wrth ymweld â ni yn ein gwaith?
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 24
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 24
That was agreed at the last House Committee meeting. The relevant department is currently considering which colour these passes should be. As soon as a decision is made, I am sure that they will be issued straight away.
Cytunwyd ar hynny yng nghyfarfod diwethaf Pwyllgor y Tŷ. Ar hyn o bryd mae’r adran berthnasol yn ystyried pa liw y dylai’r pas hwnnw fod. Cyn gynted ag y gwneir penderfyniad, yr wyf yn siŵr y cânt eu dosbarthu ar unwaith.
Cynllunio Ymweliadau Tramor
The Planning of International Visits
A wnaiff Pwyllgor y Tŷ ddatganiad ynglŷn â chynlluniau tymor hir a chydlynu ymweliadau tramor? (OAQ8181)
Will the House Committee make a statement on the long-term planning and co-ordination of international visits? (OAQ8181)
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 24
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 24
The Presiding Office receives an average of 100 international visitors every month on behalf of the Assembly. So far, the programme has been largely reactive. However, the House Committee will have a role in considering a more strategic programme of Assembly visits by international visitors and, on a cross-party basis, international visits by Assembly Members.
Mae Swyddfa’r Llywydd yn croesawu 100 o ymwelwyr tramor ar gyfartaledd bob mis ar ran y Cynulliad. Hyd yn hyn, bu’r rhaglen yn adweithiol yn bennaf. Fodd bynnag, bydd gan Bwyllgor y Tŷ rôl wrth ystyried rhaglen fwy strategol o ymweliadau â’r Cynulliad gan ymwelwyr tramor ac, ar lefel drawsbleidiol, ymweliadau tramor gan Aelodau’r Cynulliad.
Pwrpas fy nghwestiwn yw ceisio sicrhau bod ymwelwyr tramor yn cael eu croesawu gan gymaint o Aelodau ag sydd yn bosibl. Pan drefnir yr ymweliadau hyn, a fyddai’n bosibl rhoi mwy o rybudd i Aelodau fel y gallwn gydlynu ein dyddiaduron a threfnu i gyfarfod yr ymwelwyr? Deallaf fod nifer o’r ymweliadau yn digwydd ar ddydd Gwener, sydd yn golygu ei bod yn anodd i Aelodau gyfarfod ymwelwyr. Er mwyn sicrhau eu bod yn derbyn croeso teilwng, a allwch fy sicrhau y rhoddir fwy o rybudd? A yw’n bosibl trefnu mwy o ymweliadau yn ystod yr wythnos pan y gall mwy o Aelodau gymryd rhan?
The purpose of my question is to try to ensure that foreign visitors are welcomed by as many Members as possible. When these visits are organised, would it be possible to give Members more notice so that we can synchronise our diaries and arrange to meet the visitors? I understand that many visits take place on Fridays, which makes it difficult for Members to meet visitors. In order to ensure that they receive a proper welcome, can you assure me that more notice will be given? Is it possible to organise more visits during the week when more Members can take part?
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 24
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 24
Some visits, such as those that are sponsored by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, are primarily the responsibility of the Executive. Other visits to the Assembly are the responsibility of the Presiding Office and we will do all that we can to involve as many Members as we can in those visits.
Cyfrifoldeb y Weithrediaeth yn bennaf yw rhai ymweliadau, megis y rheini a noddir gan y Swyddfa Dramor a Chymanwlad. Cyfrifoldeb Swyddfa’r Llywydd yw’r ymweliadau eraill â’r Cynulliad, a gwnawn bopeth o fewn ein gallu i gynnwys cymaint o Aelodau ag y gallwn yn yr ymweliadau hynny.
Ystafell Ysmygu y Cynulliad
Assembly Smoking Room
How much did it cost to provide a smoking room in the Assembly? (OAQ8177)
Faint oedd cost darparu ystafell ysmygu yn y Cynulliad? (OAQ8177)
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 25
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 25
The cost was £8,000.
Y gost oedd £8,000.
The 7,000 people who die every year from smoking in Wales include many civil servants. Did the House Committee not realise that spending £8,000 on a smoking room rather than on a creche or a gym is bad for Members’ and employees’ health and is a truly rotten example to employers and public bodies in Wales?
Ymhlith y 7,000 o bobl sydd yn marw bob blwyddyn o ysmygu yng Nghymru y mae llawer o weision sifil. Oni sylweddolodd Pwyllgor y Tŷ fod gwario £8,000 ar ystafell ysmygu yn hytrach nag ar feithrinfa neu gampfa yn ddrwg i iechyd yr Aelodau a’r staff ac yn esiampl wirioneddol wael i gyflogwyr a chyrff cyhoeddus yng Nghymru?
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 25
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 25
I will ensure that this item is on the agenda for the next House Committee meeting. Of that £8,000, £6,500 was for installing a mechanical extraction unit. Providing a smoking room also means that you no longer see, at any time of the day, groups of Members and staff at the back door getting wet in the rain, simply because they have an addiction. There is no easy solution to this issue, but I am sure that the House Committee will return to it.
Sicrhaf y bydd yr eitem hon ar yr agenda ar gyfer cyfarfod nesaf Pwyllgor y Tŷ. O’r £8,000 hwnnw, yr oedd £6,500 ar gyfer gosod uned echdynnu fecanyddol. Mae darparu ystafell ysmygu hefyd yn golygu na welwch bellach, ar unrhyw adeg o’r dydd, grwpiau o Aelodau a staff wrth y drws cefn yn gwlychu yn y glaw, oherwydd eu bod yn gaeth i dybaco. Nid oes ateb hawdd i’r mater hwn, ond yr wyf yn siŵr y bydd Pwyllgor y Tŷ yn dychwelyd ato.
Is the Dirprwy Lywydd aware that the Assembly smoking room is a truly inclusive place? It may not be terribly transparent, but I assure him that it is inclusive and that I very much enjoy having discussions with Mrs Marek in there. [Laughter.] On a more serious note, will the Dirprwy Lywydd attempt to give us an estimate of the cost to the Assembly of not having a smoking room in terms of time loss and payment for people to stand outside in the rain?
A yw’r Dirprwy Lywydd yn ymwybodol bod ystafell ysmygu’r Cynulliad yn lle gwirioneddol gynhwysol? Efallai nad yw’n ofnadwy o dryloyw, ond fe’ch sicrhaf ei bod yn gynhwysol a’m bod yn mwynhau trafodaethau â Mrs Marek yno yn fawr. [Chwerthin.] Ar nodyn mwy difrifol, a ymgeisia’r Dirprwy Lywydd i roi amcangyfrif inni o’r gost i’r Cynulliad o beidio â chael ystafell ysmygu yn nhermau colli amser a thalu pobl i sefyll y tu allan yn y glaw?
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 25
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 25
I am pleased that the room is inclusive. I had no knowledge of that, and I must tell Rod that I am not responsible for Mrs Marek—[Laughter.] As far as smoking is concerned, that is. However, there are two sides to the problem. We must recognise the fact that smoking is an addiction and I am sure that the House Committee will do its best to tackle these concerns.
Yr wyf yn falch bod yr ystafell yn gynhwysol. Nid oeddwn yn ymwybodol o hynny, a rhaid imi ddweud wrth Rod nad wyf yn gyfrifol am Mrs Marek—[Chwerthin.] Cyn belled ag y mae ysmygu yn y cwestiwn, hynny yw. Fodd bynnag, mae dwy ochr i’r broblem. Rhaid inni gydnabod y ffaith bod ysmygu yn rhywbeth y mae pobl yn gaeth iddo ac yr wyf yn siŵr y gwna Pwyllgor y Tŷ ei orau i fynd i’r afael â’r pryderon hyn.
Diogelwch System Cyfrifiaduron y Cynulliad
Security of Assembly Computer System
A wnaiff Pwyllgor y Tŷ roi’r newyddion diweddaraf ynglŷn â pha gamau a gymerwyd i sicrhau diogelwch system cyfrifiaduron y Cynulliad yn dilyn y problemau diweddar gyda firysau yn y system? (OAQ8186)
Will the House Committee provide an update on what steps have been taken to ensure the security of the Assembly computer system following the recent problems with viruses entering the system? (OAQ8186)
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 26
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 26
The Assembly’s Business and Information Systems Division and Siemens Business Services have been examining the matter. They have installed new anti-virus software on all servers. All workstations and lap-tops on the OSIRIS network are running the latest version of the InocuLan anti-virus protection. They have introduced better procedures to alert users when problems arise and have issued revised guidance on the steps that they should take. They have also reviewed the policy regarding the use of privately owned systems for work purposes and have issued new guidance to Assembly officials.
Bu Is-adran Systemau Busnes a Gwybodaeth y Cynulliad a Gwasanaeth Busnes Siemens yn archwilio’r mater. Maent wedi gosod meddalwedd gwrthfirws newydd ar bob gwasanaethydd. Mae pob gorsaf waith a chyfrifiadur penglin ar rwydwaith OSIRIS yn rhedeg fersiwn ddiweddaraf system ddiogelu gwrthfirws InocuLan. Maent wedi cyflwyno gweithdrefnau gwell er mwyn rhybuddio defnyddwyr pan fo problemau yn codi ac maent wedi cyhoeddi arweiniad diwygiedig ar y camau y dylent eu cymryd. Maent hefyd wedi adolygu’r polisi ynghylch defnyddio systemau a berchenogir yn breifat at ddibenion gwaith ac maent wedi cyhoeddi arweiniad newydd i swyddogion y Cynulliad.
Yn sgîl hynny, pa gamau a gymerwyd i ddiogelu cyfrinachedd yn y system e-bost?
Further to that, what steps have been taken to safeguard confidentiality in the e-mail system?
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 26
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 26
Members’ e-mail systems are being removed from the Government secure internet e-mail system, but they will still be secure. As a result of problems six months ago, new guidance has been issued and my understanding is that Members’ e-mails are secure. However, I will ensure that the House Committee considers this at its next meeting and ensures e-mail security for all Members.
Mae systemau e-bost yr Aelodau yn cael eu symud o system e-bost rhyngrwyd diogel y Llywodraeth, ond byddant yn ddiogel o hyd. O ganlyniad i broblemau chwe mis yn ôl, cyhoeddwyd arweiniad newydd ac yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallaf, mae negeseuon e-bost yr Aelodau yn ddiogel. Fodd bynnag, sicrhaf fod Pwyllgor y Tŷ yn ystyried hyn yn ei gyfarfod nesaf a’i fod yn sicrhau diogelwch e-bost i bob Aelod.
Ymdrin yn Gyfartal â Chwestiynau a Gyflwynir yn Gymraeg neu yn Saesneg
Equal Treatment for Questions Tabled in Welsh or English
Will the House Committee tell us what efforts are being made to secure equal treatment for questions tabled in Welsh or English? (OAQ8184)
A wnaiff Pwyllgor y Tŷ ddweud wrthym pa ymdrechion a wneir i sicrhau yr ymdrinnir yn gyfartal â chwestiynau a gyflwynir yn Gymraeg neu yn Saesneg? (OAQ8184)
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 27
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 27
All business submitted to the Table Office is treated equally. The choice of language does not affect the way in which business is considered.
Ymdrinnir â’r holl fusnes a roddir i’r Swyddfa Gyflwyno yn gyfartal. Nid yw dewis iaith yn effeithio ar y modd yr ystyrir busnes.
The Deputy Presiding Officer will recall Owen John Thomas’s problems some weeks ago on amending questions because tabling deadlines had been missed due to translation delays. I understand that other colleagues have experienced such difficulties. Does he share my concerns that such incidents risk a breach of our Standing Orders Nos. 7.1, 8.23, 22.2 and 25.2? Will he ensure that the Translation Service gives urgent priority to urgent Members’ business of this nature?
Bydd y Dirprwy Lywydd yn cofio problemau Owen John Thomas rai wythnosau yn ôl ar ddiwygio cwestiynau oherwydd bod terfynau amser cyflwyno wedi eu methu o ganlyniad i oedi gyda’r cyfieithu. Deallaf fod cyd-Aelodau eraill wedi profi anawsterau o’r fath. A ranna fy mhryderon bod achosion o’r fath mewn perygl o dorri ein Rheolau Sefydlog Rhifau 7.1, 8.23, 22.2 a 25.2? A sicrha y bydd y Gwasanaeth Cyfieithu yn rhoi blaenoriaeth frys i fusnes brys Aelodau o’r math hwn?
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 27
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 27
Any Member who wishes to table a question or an amendment five minutes before the 4.00 p.m. deadline should be able to do so in either language and should be given a reason as to why a particular question is or is not accepted. There have been failings. There have not been sufficient translation staff, but more are being recruited. The Table Office now has a resident Welsh speaker to facilitate face-to-face and telephone contacts. The Translation Service is on stand-by to deal with any urgent business. Adequate facilities are being put in place, therefore I hope that we will soon be in a position where these problems will not arise again.
Dylai unrhyw Aelod sydd am gyflwyno cwestiwn neu ddiwygiad bum munud cyn y terfyn amser am 4.00 p.m. allu gwneud hynny yn y naill iaith neu’r llall a dylid rhoi rheswm iddo ynghylch pam y derbynnir cwestiwn arbennig neu beidio. Bu methiannau. Ni fu digon o staff cyfieithu, ond mae mwy yn cael eu recriwtio. Bellach mae gan y Swyddfa Gyflwyno Gymro Cymraeg yn barhaol i hwyluso cysylltiadau wyneb yn wyneb ac ar y ffôn. Mae’r Gwasanaeth Cyfieithu wrth law i ymdrin ag unrhyw fusnes brys. Mae cyfleusterau digonol yn cael eu sefydlu, felly gobeithiaf y byddwn yn fuan mewn sefyllfa lle na chyfyd y problemau hyn eto.
Ymestyn Oriau Desg Gymorth Gwasanaeth Busnes Siemens
Extending the Hours of the Siemens Business Services Helpdesk
Will the House Committee provide an update on the agreed proposal to extend the Siemens Business Services dedicated helpdesk service to the recommended hours? (OAQ8182)
A wnaiff Pwyllgor y Tŷ roi’r newyddion diweddaraf ynglŷn â’r cynnig y cytunwyd arno i ymestyn oriau gwasanaeth desg gymorth Gwasanaeth Busnes Siemens i’r oriau a argymhellwyd? (OAQ8182)
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 28
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 28
A note on the provision of out-of-hours information technology support for Members and their support staff was submitted to the House Committee in October. It was proposed that the service would provide telephone support from 6.30 p.m. until midnight on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at weekends. These additional services would cost £300 per week plus VAT, for a limit of 15 calls in a week. Each additional call would incur a further charge. Unfortunately, due to pressure of business, IT matters were not considered at the House Committee’s November meeting. However, they will be considered in its next meeting in January.
Cyflwynwyd nodyn ar ddarparu cymorth technoleg gwybodaeth y tu allan i oriau swyddfa ar gyfer yr Aelodau a’u staff cynorthwyol i Bwyllgor y Tŷ ym mis Hydref. Cynigiwyd y byddai’r gwasanaeth yn darparu cymorth dros y ffôn o 6.30 p.m. tan ganol nos yn ystod yr wythnos ac o 9 a.m. tan 5 p.m. ar y penwythnos. Byddai’r gwasanaethau ychwanegol hyn yn costio £300 yr wythnos yn ogystal â TAW, am ddim mwy na 15 o alwadau mewn wythnos. Byddai i bob galwad ychwanegol gost bellach. Yn anffodus, oherwydd pwysau busnes, ni ystyriwyd materion TG yng nghyfarfod Tachwedd Pwyllgor y Tŷ. Fodd bynnag, cânt eu hystyried yn ei gyfarfod nesaf yn Ionawr.
Defnyddio Neuadd y Cynulliad
Use of the Assembly Milling Area
Will the House Committee make a statement on the use of the milling area in the Assembly? (OAQ8188)
A wnaiff Pwyllgor y Tŷ ddatganiad ar y defnydd a wneir o neuadd y Cynulliad? (OAQ8188)
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 28
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 28
The Assembly milling area is used by Members, constituents and Assembly visitors as a meeting place. It is also used to stage events and exhibitions. The guidelines on the use of the milling area, which form the criteria used by the Presiding Officer in making decisions, are being reviewed by the Committee.
Defnyddir neuadd y Cynulliad gan Aelodau, etholwyr a rhai sydd yn ymweld â’r Cynulliad fel man cyfarfod. Fe’i defnyddir hefyd i lwyfannu digwyddiadau ac arddangosfeydd. Mae’r canllawiau ar ddefnyddio’r neuadd, sydd yn ffurfio’r meini prawf a ddefnyddir gan y Llywydd wrth wneud penderfyniadau, yn cael eu hadolygu gan y Pwyllgor.
Will you comment on what appears to be a practice of block-booking the milling area, which severely limits its availablity for other organisations? One organisation has block-booked the area for every Tuesday from the beginning of last month to the end of next April.
A wnewch sylw ar yr hyn sydd, i bob golwg, yn arfer o floclogi’r neuadd, sydd yn cyfyngu’n ddifrifol ar ei hargaeledd i sefydliadau eraill? Mae un sefydliad wedi bloclogi’r ardal bob dydd Mawrth o ddechrau’r mis diwethaf tan ddiwedd Ebrill y flwyddyn nesaf.
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 28
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 28
I do not know of that example. I shall look into it. On the surface—and I say this without knowing anything about the organisation that you mentioned—it seems that it cannot be right for one organisation to monopolise the area for such a long time. I will make sure that that matter is on the agenda for the next House Committee meeting.
Ni wn am yr enghraifft honno. Edrychaf i mewn iddi. Ar yr wyneb—a dywedaf hyn heb wybod unrhyw beth am y sefydliad a grybwyllasoch—ymddengys na all fod yn iawn i un sefydliad feddiannu’r ardal gyhyd. Sicrhaf fod y mater ar yr agenda ar gyfer cyfarfod nesaf Pwyllgor y Tŷ.
A yw’r Dirprwy Lywydd yn ymwybodol o’r consýrn a fynegwyd yng nghyfarfod y Pwyllgor Diwylliant ddoe ynghylch sensoriaeth o’r arddangosfeydd yn neuadd y Cynulliad a mannau eraill yn y Cynulliad? Fel Cadeirydd y Pwyllgor, byddaf yn ysgrifennu ato i fynegi’r consýrn hwnnw.
Is the Deputy Presiding Officer aware of the concern expressed in the Culture Committee meeting yesterday about censorship of exhibitions in the Assembly milling area and other areas in the Assembly? As the Committee Chair, I will write to him to express that concern.
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 29
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 29
I will await your letter. The House Committee has an advisory role in such matters. In the end, it is the Presiding Officer’s decision.
Disgwyliaf am eich llythyr. Mae gan Bwyllgor y Tŷ rôl gynghori mewn materion o’r fath. Yn y pen draw, penderfyniad y Llywydd ydyw.
Rhaglenni Addysgiadol ynghylch y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol
Educational Programmes about the National Assembly
A wnaiff Pwyllgor y Tŷ gadarnhau pa gynnydd a wnaethpwyd o ran sefydlu a hyrwyddo rhaglenni addysgiadol ynghylch y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol? (OAQ8179)
Will the House Committee confirm what progress has been made in terms of establishing and promoting educational programmes about the National Assembly? (OAQ8179)
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 29
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 29
A programme of visits for school and student parties has been made available since the opening of the Assembly. The programme has been limited by the space and facilities available and suitable for educational activity in the Assembly building. That will be remedied when the Pierhead building opens early in 2001.
Sicrhawyd bod rhaglen o ymweliadau i bartïon ysgol a myfyrwyr ar gael ers i’r Cynulliad agor. Cyfyngwyd ar y rhaglen gan y gofod a’r cyfleusterau sydd ar gael ac sydd yn addas ar gyfer gweithgarwch addysgiadol o fewn adeilad y Cynulliad. Unionir hynny pan fydd adeilad y Pierhead yn agor ddechrau 2001.
A allwch ein sicrhau y bydd y rhaglenni hynny yn canolbwyntio ar faterion Cymreig ac ar yr egwyddorion pwysig y mae’r Cynulliad yn ymwneud â hwy, sef, cydraddoldeb, datblygu cynaliadwy, diddymu tlodi a dwyieithrwydd? A fydd yr egwyddorion hynny yn cael eu mewnoli yn y rhaglenni astudiaeth fydd ar gael yng nghanolfan addysg y Pierhead?
Can you assure us that those programmes will focus on Welsh issues and on the important principles espoused by the Assembly, namely, equality, sustainable development, elimination of poverty and bilingualism? Will those principles be internalised in the study programmes that will be available in the Pierhead education centre?
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 30
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 30
The exhibition will be about Wales and the National Assembly. As a result of your question, Gareth, I will ensure that those matters are included, and that you will be satisified when the exhibition opens.
Am Gymru a’r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol y bydd yr arddangosfa. O ganlyniad i’ch cwestiwn, Gareth, sicrhaf y bydd y materion hynny yn cael eu cynnwys, ac y byddwch yn fodlon pan fydd yr arddangosfa yn agor.
Deputy Presiding Officer, will you join me in congratulating the Presiding Office and, in particular, the staff who work in the Public Information branch, on the service that they provide for education visits, especially those for school children? I have attended the presentations of those staff and they do a wonderful job.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, a ymunwch â mi wrth longyfarch Swyddfa’r Llywydd ac, yn benodol, y staff sydd yn gweithio yn y gangen Gwybodaeth Gyhoeddus, ar y gwasanaeth a ddarparant ar gyfer ymweliadau addysgiadol, yn arbennig y rheini ar gyfer plant ysgol? Yr wyf wedi mynychu cyflwyniadau’r staff hynny a gwnânt waith bendigedig.
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 30
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 30
Certainly. I have received only compliments on the service that they provide.
Yn sicr. Dim ond canmoliaeth a gefais ar y gwasanaeth a ddarparant.
I affirm that also. However, the staff work in difficult circumstances, because they do not have decent literature or pamphlets to hand to the children. When children visit places, they like to take something home with them. We cannot do that here. What progress has been made in developing that kind of information for school children in this building?
Ategaf innau hynny hefyd. Fodd bynnag, mae’r staff yn gweithio mewn amgylchiadau anodd, am nad oes ganddynt lenyddiaeth na phamffledi boddhaol i’w rhoi i’r plant. Pan fydd plant yn ymweld â lleoedd, maent yn hoffi mynd â rhywbeth adref gyda hwy. Ni allwn wneud hynny yma. Pa gynnydd a wnaethpwyd wrth ddatblygu’r math hwnnw o wybodaeth ar gyfer plant ysgol yn yr adeilad hwn?
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 30
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 30
That is being developed as part of the exhibition in the Pierhead building. I will ensure that there is a proper supply and variety of literature so that children can take away with them information about all the facets of the exhibition and the National Assembly.
Mae hynny’n cael ei ddatblygu fel rhan o’r arddangosfa o fewn adeilad y Pierhead. Sicrhaf fod cyflenwad digonol ac amrywiaeth o lenyddiaeth ar gael fel y gall plant fynd â gwybodaeth gyda hwy am holl agweddau’r arddangosfa a’r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol.
Cynllun Gwreiddiol Adeilad Newydd y Cynulliad (Darpariaeth ar gyfer Pobl Anabl)
New Assembly Building Original Design (Disabled Provision)
What is the estimated cost, in both time and money, of the failure to require the architects to include provisions for the disabled within their original design for the new National Assembly for Wales building? (OAQ8195)
Faint a amcangyfrifir yw’r gost, o ran amser ac arian, o fethu â gofyn i’r penseiri gynnwys darpariaethau ar gyfer pobl anabl yn eu cynlluniau gwreiddiol ar gyfer adeilad newydd Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru? (OAQ8195)
I congratulate the Presiding Officer and the Deputy Presiding Officer for allowing this new form of scrutiny. It is very welcome.
Llongyfarchaf y Llywydd a’r Dirprwy Lywydd am ganiatáu’r ffurf newydd hon o archwilio. Mae croeso mawr iddo.
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 31
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 31
This matter does not fall within the remit of the House Committee. I apologise, Alison. I should have transferred that question to the Executive.
Nid yw’r mater hwn yn syrthio o fewn cylch gwaith Pwyllgor y Tŷ. Ymddiheuraf, Alison. Dylwn fod wedi trosglwyddo’r cwestiwn hwnnw i’r Weithrediaeth.
Does that mean that the scrutiny has gone out of the window? [Laughter.] I shall take that up with the House Committee.
A olyga hynny fod archwilio wedi mynd allan drwy’r ffenestr? [Chwerthin.] Codaf hynny gyda Phwyllgor y Tŷ.
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 31
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 31
There is House Committee involvement once the building is handed over, so there is co-operation. However, the question is properly one for the Executive and should have been transferred to it. I apologise.
Bydd yn gysylltiedig â Phwyllgor y Tŷ unwaith y trosglwyddir yr adeilad, felly mae cydweithredu. Fodd bynnag, a bod yn gywir, cwestiwn i’r Weithrediaeth ydyw a dylid bod wedi ei drosglwyddo iddo. Ymddiheuraf am hynny.
Will you be suggesting a way that the Executive can be brought into the scrutiny regime?
A fyddwch yn awgrymu ffordd i’r Weithrediaeth allu cael ei thynnu i mewn i’r drefn archwilio?
Diogelwch Swyddfeydd Etholaeth Aelodau’r Cynulliad
Security of Assembly Members’ Constituency Offices
Since the horrific murder of a volunteer assistant in the constituency office of Nigel Jones MP, has the Committee considered the measures that are required to ensure that Assembly Members’ constituency offices are properly secure and safe? (OAQ8189)
Ers llofruddiaeth erchyll cynorthwy-ydd gwirfoddol yn swyddfa etholaeth Nigel Jones AS, a yw’r Pwyllgor wedi ystyried y mesurau angenrheidiol er mwyn sicrhau bod swyddfeydd etholaeth Aelodau’r Cynulliad yn gwbl ddiogel? (OAQ8189)
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 31
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 31
The House Committee considered that issue at its meeting on 22 November and will be recommending shortly to all Members an increase in Members’ office costs allowance of £2,000 to provide for security measures. I understand that the relevant motion will be tabled for debate next week.
Ystyriodd Pwyllgor y Tŷ y mater hwnnw yn ei gyfarfod ar 22 Tachwedd a chyn hir bydd yn argymell cynnydd o £2,000 i bob Aelod yn lwfans costau swyddfa yr Aelodau er mwyn darparu ar gyfer mesurau diogelwch. Deallaf y bydd y cynnig perthnasol yn cael ei gyflwyno i’w drafod yr wythnos nesaf.
Dafydd Elis-Thomas The Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 31
Dafydd Elis-Thomas Y Llywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 31
Before I transfer the Chair to the hard-working Deputy Presiding Officer, I have agreed with the Executive that we take a statement from Sue Essex at a convenient time this morning.
Cyn imi drosglwyddo’r Gadair i’r Dirprwy Lywydd diwyd, yr wyf wedi cytuno gyda’r Weithrediaeth ein bod yn cymryd datganiad gan Sue Essex ar adeg gyfleus y bore yma.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd i’r Gadair am 10.00 a.m.
The Deputy Presiding Officer took the Chair at 10.00 a.m.
Strategaeth i Hybu Iechyd a Lles
Strategy to Promote Health and Wellbeing
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 32
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 32
I have selected amendment 1 in the name of Jocelyn Davies and amendments 2 and 3 in the name of David Melding.
Yr wyf wedi dethol gwelliant 1 yn enw Jocelyn Davies a gwelliannau 2 a 3 yn enw David Melding.
Jane Hutt The Minister for Health and Social Services spoken in English p. 32
Jane Hutt Y Gweinidog dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 32
I propose that
Cynigiaf fod
Jane Hutt The Minister for Health and Social Services (continued) spoken in English p. 32
Jane Hutt Y Gweinidog dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol (parhad) siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 32
I am pleased to open today’s debate on promoting health and wellbeing. I will concentrate on two things: first, the action that will be taken to promote health and wellbeing and, secondly, the potential for more to be done across the Assembly’s policy areas as a further step towards integrating policies and programmes to add value to the health and wellbeing programme.
Yr wyf yn falch o agor dadl heddiw ar hybu iechyd a lles. Canolbwyntiaf ar ddau beth: yn gyntaf, y camau a gymerir i hybu iechyd a lles ac, yn ail, y potensial i wneud mwy ar draws meysydd polisi’r Cynulliad fel cam pellach tuag at integreiddio polisïau a rhaglenni er mwyn ychwanegu gwerth at y rhaglen iechyd a lles.
The document tabled with today’s motion sets out an extensive programme of action over the next three years. It builds on the proposals for a national health promotion strategy published for consultation earlier this year, and on my July statement ‘Building a Healthier Future for Wales’. The feedback that we received welcomed the Assembly’s proactive approach as a framework for a sustained and co-ordinated effort involving people, communities and organisations. The main issue from the feedback was the need for additional investment. There was concern that, without that, the strategy would simply be fine words without the support to back it up. We have responded positively on that.
Mae’r ddogfen a gyflwynwyd gyda chynnig heddiw yn nodi rhaglen weithredu eang dros y tair blynedd nesaf. Adeilada ar y cynigion ar gyfer strategaeth hybu iechyd genedlaethol a gyhoeddwyd ar gyfer ymgynghori yn gynharach eleni, ac ar fy natganiad yng Ngorffennaf sef ‘Adeiladu Dyfodol Iachach ar gyfer Cymru’. Yr oedd yr atborth a dderbyniasom yn croesawu ymagwedd ragweithiol y Cynulliad fel fframwaith ar gyfer ymdrech gynaliadwy a chydlynol a fydd yn cynnwys pobl, cymunedau a sefydliadau. Prif bwnc yr atborth oedd yr angen am fuddsoddi ychwanegol. Yr oedd pryder na fyddai’r strategaeth, heb hynny, yn ddim mwy na geiriau teg heb y cymorth i’w cefnogi. Yr ydym wedi ymateb yn gadarnhaol yn hynny o beth.
Subject to the Assembly’s decisions, the health promotion programmes budget will more than double to just over £1.7 million. Additional investment will give a major boost to the development of local health alliances and health promotion in schools. We plan to increase the budget to tackle smoking. We also plan support to address inequalities in health with funding of £3 million next year, rising to £6 million in 2003-04. The programme contains action to address priorities such as smoking and healthy eating, action to harness the full potential of schools to improve the health of young people, and action to help communities address issues that affect people’s health. It will promote health among people and communities that are often excluded and disregarded, such as black and ethnic minorities, and among people who are vulnerable and disadvantaged. Local health alliances will help reduce inequalities in health by strengthening local partnership working, by ensuring synergy between health improvement plans, the work of local health groups and community strategies.
Yn amodol ar benderfyniadau’r Cynulliad, bydd cyllideb y rhaglenni hybu iechyd yn mwy na dyblu i ychydig dros £1.7 miliwn. Bydd buddsoddi ychwanegol yn rhoi hwb fawr i ddatblygu cynghreiriau iechyd lleol a hybu iechyd mewn ysgolion. Bwriadwn gynyddu’r gyllideb er mwyn mynd i’r afael ag ysmygu. Cynlluniwn hefyd gymorth er mwyn mynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldebau ym maes iechyd gyda chyllid o £3 miliwn y flwyddyn nesaf, gan godi i £6 miliwn yn 2003-04. Mae’r rhaglen yn cynnwys camau i roi sywl i flaenoriaethau megis ysmygu a bwyta’n iach, camau i harneisio potensial llawn ysgolion er mwyn gwella iechyd pobl ifanc, a chamau i helpu cymunedau i roi sylw i faterion sydd yn effeithio ar iechyd pobl. Bydd yn hybu iechyd ymhlith pobl a chymunedau a eithrir ac a ddiystyrir yn aml, megis lleiafrifoedd du ac ethnig, ac ymhlith pobl sydd yn ddiamddiffyn ac sydd dan anfantais. Bydd cynghreiriau iechyd lleol yn helpu i leihau anghydraddoldeb ym maes iechyd drwy gryfhau gwaith partneriaeth lleol, drwy sicrhau synergedd rhwng cynlluniau gwella iechyd, gwaith grwpiau iechyd lleol a strategaethau cymunedol.
As I have said, health improvement and reducing health inequalities are themes that go much wider than the health and social services portfolio. The belief that health promotion is the responsibility of the health sector alone is outdated. The national health service has a major role in preventing ill-health, and the forthcoming national strategy for the NHS in Wales will strengthen that further. However, the Assembly’s other policy areas can make a major contribution to preventing ill-health, which will help to achieve our wider objectives, on sustainable development for example. Improving health means not just addressing lifestyle, but taking action on the lifestyle circumstances that give rise to poor health. A job, a decent home, good education and an attractive environment are all key determinants of health. A strong framework is required to focus on the underlying social, economic and environmental circumstances that affect health.
Fel y dywedais, mae gwella iechyd a lleihau anghydraddoldebau ym maes iechyd yn themâu sydd yn ehangach na’r portffolio iechyd a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol. Mae’r gred mai cyfrifoldeb y sector iechyd yn unig yw hybu iechyd yn hen ffasiwn. Mae gan y gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol rôl amlwg wrth atal afiechyd, a bydd y strategaeth genedlaethol sydd ar ddod ar gyfer yr NHS yng Nghymru yn cryfhau hynny ymhellach. Fodd bynnag, gall meysydd polisi eraill y Cynulliad wneud cyfraniad mawr at atal afiechyd, a fydd yn helpu i gyflawni ein hamcanion ehangach, ar ddatblygu cynaliadwy er enghraifft. Golyga gwella iechyd nid yn unig roi sywl i ffordd o fyw, ond cymryd camau ar amgylchiadau’r ffordd o fyw sydd yn arwain at iechyd gwael. Mae swydd, cartref safonol, addysg dda ac amgylchedd deniadol i gyd yn ffactorau allweddol sydd yn penderfynu iechyd. Mae angen fframwaith cryf er mwyn canolbwyntio ar yr amgylchiadau cymdeithasol, economaidd ac amgylcheddol gwaelodol sydd yn effeithio ar iechyd.
Many individuals and organisations have taken this message on board and are making a significant contribution to our efforts to improve health, but there is considerable untapped potential. We can go much further. Economic development is one example. The Objective 1 programme already supports action to promote healthier lifestyles, but our health impact assessment shows its true potential to address strategically the range of social and economic factors that combine to affect people’s health.
Mae llawer o unigolion a sefydliadau wedi cymryd y neges hon o ddifrif ac yn gwneud cyfraniad sylweddol at ein hymdrechion i wella iechyd, ond mae cryn botensial heb ei gyffwrdd. Gallwn fynd lawer ymhellach. Mae datblygu economaidd yn un enghraifft. Mae rhaglen Amcan 1 eisoes yn cefnogi camau i hybu ffyrdd iachach o fyw, ond mae ein hasesiad o effaith iechyd yn dangos ei gwir botensial i fynd i’r afael yn strategol â’r amrywiaeth o ffactorau cymdeithasol ac economaidd sydd yn cyfuno i effeithio ar iechyd pobl.
That poses a number of questions. How can we integrate action to improve people’s health into the national and local support mechanisms that help people back into employment and training opportunities? What can be done to improve the health of employees as an integrated part of our business development and business support initiatives? The cost of avoidable ill-health to companies is considerable, and ill-health deprives the Welsh economy of valuable skills and experience. What opportunities exist in the policy areas of planning, transport and housing to harness new opportunities to improve health and to reinforce the importance of health? What more can be done in communities to integrate action on health as part of wider community regeneration? Communities First is a major step forward for regenerating deprived communities in Wales, and action to improve health is a core component. We need to make best possible use, not just of Objective 1, but of the support available from the new opportunities fund. In St Mellons, for example, the new opportunities fund is supporting community health development by increasing the capacity for local action to improve people’s health and by engaging the community in planning that action. We must develop health as part of our lifelong learning agenda. Improving people’s knowledge and access to information is essential if we are to encourage people to take greater responsibility for their own health and to take positive action to improve their health and that of their families.
Mae hynny’n codi nifer o gwestiynau. Sut y gallwn integreiddio camau i wella iechyd pobl â’r dulliau cefnogi cenedlaethol a lleol sydd yn helpu pobl yn ôl i waith a chyfleoedd hyfforddi? Beth y gellir ei wneud i wella iechyd gweithwyr fel rhan integredig o’n mentrau datblygu busnes a chefnogi busnesau? Mae cost salwch y gellir ei osgoi i gwmnïau yn sylweddol, ac mae salwch yn amddifadu economi Cymru o sgiliau a phrofiad gwerthfawr. Pa gyfleoedd sydd yn bodoli ym meysydd polisi cynllunio, trafnidiaeth a thai i harneisio cyfleoedd newydd er mwyn gwella iechyd ac atgyfnerthu pwysigrwydd iechyd? Beth yn rhagor y gellir ei wneud mewn cymunedau er mwyn integreiddio camau ar iechyd fel rhan o’r broses o adfywio cymunedau ehangach? Mae Rhoi Cymunedau’n Gyntaf yn gam mawr ymlaen o ran adfywio cymunedau difreintiedig yng Nghymru, ac mae camau i wella iechyd yn elfen graidd. Mae angen inni wneud y defnydd gorau posibl, nid yn unig o Amcan 1, ond o’r cymorth sydd ar gael o du’r gronfa cyfleoedd newydd. Yn Llaneirwg, er enghraifft, mae’r gronfa cyfleoedd newydd yn cefnogi datblygu iechyd cymunedol drwy gynyddu’r posibilrwydd o gymryd camau i wella iechyd pobl yn lleol a thrwy ymrwymo’r gymuned wrth gynllunio’r camau hynny. Rhaid inni ddatblygu iechyd fel rhan o’n hagenda dysgu gydol oes. Mae gwella gwybodaeth pobl a’u mynediad i wybodaeth yn hanfodol os ydym am annog pobl i ymgymryd â chyfrifoldeb mwy dros eu hiechyd eu hunain ac i gymryd camau cadarnhaol i wella eu hiechyd hwy a’u teuluoedd.
Today’s motion highlights the programme’s contribution to a co-ordinated and sustained effort within the framework set by the national health promotion strategy. It urges Subject Committees to consider the impact of their policies, thus helping to identify new opportunities to promote health across policy areas. Jocelyn Davies’s amendment 1 builds on that. It highlights the importance of a co-ordinated approach and targeted investment. The strategy and the action programme capture those themes, together with the documents mentioned in amendment 1. I will be pleased to support that amendment. Other developments could be added to that list, such as Communities First. David Melding’s amendments 2 and 3 highlight key determinants of health—lifestyle choices on the one hand, and socio-economic factors on the other. I will also support those amendments. The strategy and the programme reflect the importance of action to promote healthy lifestyles, but as part of wider action to address the socio-economic determinants of health.
Mae cynnig heddiw yn amlygu cyfraniad y rhaglen at ymdrech gydlynol a chynaliadwy o fewn y fframwaith a bennwyd gan y strategaeth hybu iechyd genedlaethol. Mae’n annog Pwyllgorau Pwnc i ystyried effaith eu polisïau, a thrwy hynny helpu i nodi cyfleoedd newydd i hybu iechyd ar draws meysydd polisi. Mae gwelliant 1 Jocelyn Davies yn adeiladu ar hynny. Mae’n amlygu pwysigrwydd ymagwedd gydlynol a buddsoddiad wedi’i dargedu. Mae’r strategaeth a’r rhaglen weithredu yn cwmpasu’r themâu hynny, ynghyd â’r dogfennau a grybwyllir yng ngwelliant 1. Byddaf yn falch o gefnogi’r gwelliant hwnnw. Gellid ychwanegu datblygiadau eraill at y rhestr honno, megis Rhoi Cymunedau’n Gyntaf. Mae gwelliannau 2 a 3 David Melding yn amlygu ffactorau allweddol sydd yn penderfynu iechyd—dewisiadau o ran ffordd o fyw ar y naill law, a ffactorau cymdeithasol economaidd ar y llall. Cefnogaf y gwelliannau hynny hefyd. Mae’r strategaeth a’r rhaglen yn adlewyrchu pwysigrwydd gweithredu er mwyn hybu ffyrdd iach o fyw, ond fel rhan o broses weithredu ehangach i fynd i’r afael â’r ffactorau cymdeithasol economaidd sydd yn penderfynu iechyd.
Over and above looking for new opportunities to promote health, we must also think differently. Exercise, for example, is an essential element of a healthy lifestyle. Not only does it help to reduce the risk of heart disease, it also contributes to mental wellbeing. Sport has a role to play, but it is even more important that we find new ways of encouraging people to build exercise into their daily lives, as part of their working day or as part of their leisure time, while recognising that, if you are poor, excluded, depressed, lacking in hope or opportunity, this may sound like pie in the sky. Children like to play in the streets and parks, but if those places were safer, more children would be out and about and not afraid of walking to school. Let us remember that promoting play is more fundamental than just providing playgrounds.
Yn ychwanegol at edrych am gyfleoedd newydd i hybu iechyd, rhai inni hefyd feddwl yn wahanol. Mae ymarfer corff, er enghraifft, yn elfen hanfodol o ffordd iach o fyw. Nid yn unig y mae’n helpu i leihau’r perygl o glefyd y galon, mae hefyd yn cyfrannu at les meddyliol. Mae gan chwaraeon rôl i’w chwarae, ond mae hyd yn oed yn bwysicach ein bod yn dod o hyd i ffyrdd newydd o annog pobl i gynnwys ymarfer corff yn eu bywydau bob dydd, fel rhan o’u diwrnod gwaith neu fel rhan o’u hamser hamdden, tra’n cydnabod bod hyn, os ydych yn dlawd, wedi’ch eithrio, yn isel eich ysbryd, yn ddiobaith neu’n ddigyfle, efallai yn swnio fel breuddwyd gwrach. Mae plant yn hoffi chwarae ar y strydoedd ac yn y parciau, ond os byddai’r mannau hynny yn fwy diogel, byddai mwy o blant o gwmpas y lle heb fod arnynt ofn cerdded i’r ysgol. Gadewch inni gofio fod hybu chwarae yn fwy sylfaenol na darparu ardaloedd chwarae yn unig.
Some progress has been made in getting people to eat less fat and more fruit and vegetables. However, more needs to be done. For that reason, I have asked the Food Standards Agency to develop a nutrition strategy for Wales. This will help people in our most disadvantaged communities whose diets are often less healthy than those of other people in Wales because of problems of access, availability and the affordability of healthy foods.
Gwnaethpwyd rhywfaint o gynnydd wrth gael pobl i fwyta llai o fraster a mwy o ffrwythau a llysiau. Fodd bynnag, mae angen gwneud mwy. Am y rheswm hwnnw, gofynnais i’r Asiantaeth Safonau Bwyd ddatblygu strategaeth faeth ar gyfer Cymru. Bydd hyn yn helpu pobl yn ein cymunedau mwyaf difreintiedig y mae eu deiet yn aml yn llai iach na deiet pobl eraill yng Nghymru oherwydd problemau mynediad, argaeledd a’r gallu i fforddio bwydydd iach.
Poor nutrition pre-pregnancy and during pregnancy can not only affect birth and subsequent outcomes, but also susceptibility to heart disease in adulthood. That is also true of poor nutrition in early childhood. The national service framework for coronary heart disease, which we have already discussed this morning, includes national and local programmes for healthy eating and exercise, which are vital to prevent heart disease and cancer and to ensure wellbeing. However, we need to extend our approach to harness all possible opportunities.
Gall maeth gwael cyn beichiogrwydd ac yn ystod beichiogrwydd nid yn unig effeithio ar yr enedigaeth a chanlyniadau dilynol, ond hefyd ar dueddiad i glefyd y galon pan yn oedolyn. Mae hynny hefyd yn wir am faeth gwael yn ystod plentyndod cynnar. Mae’r fframwaith gwasanaeth cenedlaethol ar gyfer clefyd coronaidd y galon, yr ydym eisoes wedi ei drafod y bore yma, yn cynnwys rhaglenni cenedlaethol a lleol ar gyfer bwyta’n iach ac ymarfer corff, sydd yn hanfodol i atal clefyd y galon a chanser ac i sicrhau lles. Fodd bynnag, mae angen inni ymestyn ein hymagwedd i harneisio pob cyfle posibl.
In setting the scene for today’s debate, I have emphasised not only the importance of our health improvement programme but the potential of other programmes and policies to assist in our efforts to improve health and reduce inequality. Subject Committees have a key role in considering the impact of their policies and programmes on health and in identifying opportunities for more integrated action. All of us in the Assembly must embrace that to ensure a healthier future for Wales.
Wrth osod y sefyllfa ar gyfer dadl heddiw, pwysleisiais nid yn unig bwysigrwydd ein rhaglen gwella iechyd ond potensial rhaglenni a pholisïau eraill i gynorthwyo yn ein hymdrechion i wella iechyd a lleihau anghyfartaledd. Mae gan Bwyllgorau Pwnc rôl allweddol wrth ystyried effaith eu polisïau a’u rhaglenni ar iechyd ac wrth nodi cyfleoedd am gamau mwy integredig. Rhaid i bawb ohonom yn y Cynulliad groesawu hynny er mwyn sicrhau dyfodol iachach i Gymru.
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 37
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 37
I call on David Lloyd to propose amendment 1, tabled in the name of Jocelyn Davies.
Galwaf ar David Lloyd i gynnig gwelliant 1, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Jocelyn Davies.
Cynigiaf welliant 1. Ychwanegu cymal 3 newydd, ac ailrifo gweddill y pwyntiau yn unol â hynny:
I propose amendment 1. Add as new clause 3 and renumber the remaining points accordingly:
Yn naturiol, yr ydym fel plaid yn croesawu’r ddadl hon a geiriau Jane y bore yma. Datganaf fuddiant fel meddyg a chynghorydd sir ar Gyngor Dinas a Sir Abertawe.
Naturally, we as a party welcome this debate and Jane’s words this morning. I declare an interest as a doctor and a county councillor of Swansea City and County Council.
Euthum i mewn i lywodraeth leol fel cynghorydd sir, wedi imi sylweddoli ei chyfraniad allweddol i iechyd ac i atal afiechyd. Llywodraeth leol sydd yn gyfrifol am dai, ac mae cyflwr ein tai yn dylanwadu’n drwm ar ein hiechyd; yn wir mae’n ganolog iddo. Mae hefyd yn gyfrifol am drafnidiaeth a’r angen dybryd i ehangu trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus gan fod naw o bobl yn marw ar ffyrdd Prydain bob dydd mewn damweiniau ceir.
I entered local government as a county councillor, having realised its crucial contribution to health and the prevention of disease. Local government is responsible for housing, and the state of our houses heavily influences our health; indeed it is central to it. It is also responsible for transport and the pressing need to expand public transport since nine people die on Britain’s roads every day in car accidents.
Llywodraeth leol hefyd sydd yn gyfrifol am faterion iechyd yr amgylchedd. Fodd bynnag, nid awn ar ôl mater safle tirlenwi Nantygwyddon heddiw. Mae llywodraeth leol yn gyfrifol am wasanaethau cymdeithasol. Dyna pam y datganaf fuddiant fel cynghorydd sir yn ogystal ag fel meddyg. Mae gan lywodraeth leol rôl ganolog mewn hybu iechyd y tu allan i’r gwasanaeth iechyd.
Local government is also responsible for environmental health matters. However, we will not pursue the matter of the Nantygwyddon landfill site today. Local government is reponsible for social services. That is why I declare an interest as a county councillor as well as a doctor. Local government has a central role in promoting health outside of the health service.
Fel meddyg, ac mae hyn yn wir am weithwyr eraill yn y gwasanaeth iechyd hefyd, yr wyf yn meddwl am iechyd mewn termau eang. Yr ydym yn meddwl am iechyd mewn termau corfforol, ond hefyd mewn termau seicolegol, cymdeithasol ac ysbrydol. Mae agweddau eang i iechyd, ac mae anhwylder mewn unrhyw un o’r agweddau hynny yn gallu peri salwch. Nid mater o salwch corfforol yn unig ydyw; mae agweddau seicolegol, cymdeithasol ac ysbrydol ar iechyd yr un mor bwysig. Maent yn rhoi iechyd inni.
As a doctor, and this is also true of other health service workers, I think of health in broad terms. We think of health in physical terms, but also in psychological, sociological and spiritual terms. There are broad aspects to health, and malaise in any of those aspects can result in illness. It is not just a matter of physical illness; the psychological, sociological and spiritual aspects of health are equally important. They keep us healthy.
Wrth edrych ar iechyd yr unigolyn, mae camau y gallwn ni, fel unigolion, eu cymryd. Clywsom eisoes y bore yma na ddylem ysmygu. Mae 7,000 o farwolaethau y flwyddyn o achos ysmygu yng Nghymru, a 110,000 o farwolaethau y flwyddyn ym Mhrydain. Gallwn hefyd fwyta’n iach, gwneud ymarfer corff ac addysgu ein hunain. Mae addysg yn rhan o’r strategaeth iechyd sydd ger ein bron heddiw.
In considering the health of the individual, there are steps that we, as individuals, can take. We have already heard this morning that we should not smoke. There are 7,000 deaths per year as a result of smoking in Wales, and 110,000 deaths per year in Britain. We can also eat healthily, exercise and educate ourselves. Education is a part of the health strategy before us today.
Mae materion sydd y tu allan i’n rheolaeth, megis ein genynnau a’n hanes meddygol teuluol. Mae ffactorau eraill yn dylanwadu ar iechyd yr unigolyn; er enghraifft, ffactorau cymdeithasol ac economaidd. Tlodi yw’r prif ffactor sydd wedi rhoi i’n gwlad, yn gyson dros genedlaethau, yr ystadegau iechyd gwaethaf.
There are matters beyond our control, such as our genes and family medical history. Other factors influence individuals’ health; for example, social and economic factors. Poverty is the main factor that has given our country, consistently over generations, the worst health statistics.
Tlodi sydd yn peri bod unrhyw salwch yn fwy cyffredin yma yng Nghymru a bod effaith unrhyw salwch ar yr unigolyn yn waeth os yw’r unigolyn yn dlawd hefyd. Felly, mae canlyniad trawiad ar y galon yn waeth os ydych yn dlawd. Mae effaith strôc yn waeth os ydych yn dlawd. Mewn astudiaeth ddiweddar o’r Alban mae canlyniadau triniaeth am ganser y fron 15 y cant yn waeth mewn ardaloedd tlawd, ddifreintiedig, o’u cymharu â’r hyn sydd yn arferol yn awr mewn ardaloedd mwy llewyrchus.
Poverty means that any illness is more prevalent here in Wales, and that the effect of any illness is worse on the individual if that individual is poor. Therefore, the consequences of a heart attack are worse if you are poor. The effect of a stroke is worse if you are poor. In a recent study from Scotland, breast cancer treatment results are 15 per cent lower in poor, deprived areas, compared to the current averages in more prosperous areas.
Mae hyn i gyd yn tanseilio’n gyfan gwbl y gwelliant diweddar o 15 y cant mewn canlyniadau trin canser y fron oherwydd gwelliannau mewn triniaethau a sgrinio. Mae’r gwelliannau mewn canlyniadau trin canser y fron yn cael eu tanseilio’n gyfan gwbl mewn ardaloedd tlawd. Nid tlodi’n unig sydd yn dylanwadu’n anffafriol ar iechyd ond hefyd anghyfartaledd incwm o fewn yr un ardal. Mae astudiaeth o Unol Daleithiau America, a gyhoeddwyd yn y British Medical Journal yr wythnos diwethaf, yn dangos graddfa uchel o iselder ysbryd ac afiechyd corfforol mewn ardaloedd tlawd, difreintiedig; ond yr oedd mwy o iselder ac afiechyd corfforol mewn ardaloedd tlawd a oedd nesaf at ardaloedd llewyrchus. Lle nad oedd gwahaniaeth yn y tlodi, yr unig wahaniaeth oedd pa un a oedd cyfoeth y drws nesaf. Hynny yw, yr anghyfartaledd a oedd yn peri bod mwy o salwch. Yr oedd y tlodi yr un fath.
All of this totally undermines the recent improvement of 15 per cent in breast cancer treatment results achieved as a result of improvement in treatment and screening. The improvements in breast cancer treatment results are being totally undermined in poorer areas. It is not only poverty that influences health unfavourably but also inequality of income in the same area. A study from the United States of America, published in the British Medical Journal last week, showed a high degree of depression and physical ill-health in poor, deprived areas; but there was more depression and physical illness in poor areas adjacent to prosperous areas. Where there was no difference in poverty levels, the only difference was whether there was wealth in an adjacent area. That is, the higher levels of illness were due to the inequality. The poverty was the same.
Os edrychwn ar ystadegau iechyd rhyngwladol, y gwledydd tlawd, fel y gellid disgwyl, sydd â’r ystadegau iechyd gwaethaf. Fodd bynnag, nid y gwledydd cyfoethocaf sydd â’r iechyd gorau, ond y gwledydd hynny sydd â’r lefelau incwm mwyaf cyfartal: gwledydd Llychlyn, er enghraifft. Y gwledydd hynny sydd â’r iechyd gorau. Yn amlwg, mae agosatrwydd cymdeithasol yn rôl berthnasol yn hyn o beth; ac mae rhagor o faes ymchwil yn gysylltiedig â hynny.
If we look at international health statistics, the poorest countries, as one would expect, have the worst health statistics. However, the wealthiest countries are not the healthiest, but those countries with the least inequality in income: the Scandinavian countries, for example. Those are the healthiest countries. Evidently, social cohesion has a part to play in this; and more research needs to be undertaken in this field.
Pwyslais adroddiad Black yn 1980 oedd rôl ffactorau cymdeithasol—megis tai gwael, tlodi a diweithdra—mewn achosi afiechyd. Hwnnw yw’r adroddiad a fu’n casglu llwch, ar silff, o dan Lywodraeth Geidwadol o 1980 ymlaen: Llywodraeth a oedd yn gwadu unrhyw gysylltiad rhwng ffactorau cymdeithasol ac afiechyd. Felly, yn naturiol, croesawn dröedigaeth David Melding ar y pwynt hwn, fel y gwelir yng ngwelliant 2 yn ei enw.
The Black report published in 1980 concentrated on the role of social factors—such as poor housing, poverty and unemployment—in causing ill-health. That report was left to gather dust on a shelf by the Conservative Government from 1980 onwards: a Government that denied that there was any link at all between sociological factors and ill-health. Therefore, we naturally welcome David Melding’s conversion on this point, as shown in amendment 2 in his name.
I gloi’r drafodaeth hon ar hybu iechyd a lles—bydd Geraint Davies a Brian Hancock yn mynd fwy ar ôl manylion y strategaeth—yr ydym yn croesawu’r ddogfen hon, ond mae angen buddsoddi digonol i wireddu’r strategaeth, ac mae angen i bawb, yn unigolion, awdurdodau iechyd, a’r sector gwirfoddol, feddwl yn nhermau hybu iechyd ar draws meysydd portffolio fel y mae Jane wedi crybwyll eisoes. Felly, mae gennym i gyd gyfraniad i’w wneud i hybu iechyd: yr unigolyn drwy beidio ag ysmygu a thrwy fwyta’n iach ac ymarfer corff; a llywodraeth leol drwy ymdrin â strategaeth dai a thrafnidiaeth gyhoeddus. Er bod llawer o hyn y tu allan i’r gwasanaeth iechyd, mae rôl ganolog gan y gwasanaeth yn y dasg o hybu iechyd yn ogystal â thrin afiechyd. Mae rôl hefyd gan y Llywodraeth yn y Cynulliad. Mae her sylweddol o’i blaen i fynd i’r afael â thlodi, hybu economi ein gwlad a chreu swyddi sydd yn adeiladu hunan-barch a phwrpas ymhlith ein pobl.
To conclude this discussion on the promotion of health and wellbeing—Geraint Davies and Brian Hancock will address further the details of the strategy—we welcome this document but sufficient investment is needed to make sure that this strategy bears fruit, and everyone, individuals, health authorities, and the voluntary sector, need to think in terms of health promotion across portfolio areas as Jane has already mentioned. Therefore, we all have a contribution to make in promoting health: the individual by not smoking, by eating healthily and exercising; and local government by dealing with housing and public transport strategies. Although much of this is outside the health service, the service has a central role in health promotion as well as in treating ill-health. The Government in the Assembly also has a role. There is a substantial challenge before it to tackle poverty, promote our country’s economy, and create jobs that create self respect and purpose among our people.
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 40
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 40
Before I call David Melding, I wish to repeat what the Presiding Officer said, that the Minister for Environment will make a statement after David Melding has spoken. Would it be possible to broadcast a notice on the television monitors so that Members absent from the Chamber will have notice of the statement? We must ensure in future that Members are given notice of statements made out of normal times. I call David Melding to propose amendments 2 and 3, in his name.
Cyn imi alw ar David Melding, hoffwn ailadrodd yr hyn a ddywedodd y Llywydd, sef y bydd y Gweinidog dros yr Amgylchedd yn gwneud datganiad ar ôl i David Melding siarad. A fuasai’n bosibl darlledu hysbysiad ar y monitorau teledu er mwyn i’r Aelodau sydd yn absennol o’r Siambr gael eu hysbysu am y datganiad? Rhaid inni sicrhau yn y dyfodol yr hysbysir yr Aelodau am ddatganiadau a wneir y tu allan i amserau arferol. Galwaf ar David Melding i gynnig gwelliannau 2 a 3, yn ei enw.
I propose amendment 2. Insert after first clause:
Cynigiaf welliant 2. Ychwanegu ar ôl y cymal cyntaf:
I also propose amendment 3. Insert after second clause:
Cynigiaf hefyd welliant 3. Ychwanegu ar ôl yr ail gymal:
The Welsh Conservative Party is pleased to support this motion and the amendments. I am pleased that the two previous speakers have recognised the central importance that individuals have in making healthy lifestyle choices. It is important for the individual’s dignity that we always keep that at the heart of our strategy, and I endorse the remarks that have already been made, and welcome the fact that all groups will support our amendments.
Mae Plaid Geidwadol Cymru yn falch o gefnogi’r cynnig hwn a’r gwelliannau. Yr wyf yn falch bod y ddau siaradwr blaenorol wedi cydnabod y pwysigrwydd canolog sydd gan unigolion wrth wneud dewisiadau ffordd iach o fyw. Mae’n bwysig o ran urddas yr unigolyn ein bod yn cadw hynny bob amser wrth galon ein strategaeth, a chymeradwyaf y sylwadau a wnaethpwyd eisoes, a chroesawaf y ffaith y bydd pob grŵp yn cefnogi ein gwelliannau.
However, these choices are made within a socio-economic context. I am happy to respond to Dai Lloyd and say that we must explicitly acknowledge that the health of the people of Wales is well below the European Union average. Health levels in our most deprived communities are at the bottom of the European league table. That is a fact and it would be irresponsible to ignore it, and it would be bad policy not to emphasise this element of the health climate. It is important that it is at the centre of our strategy.
Fodd bynnag, gwneir y dewisiadau hyn o fewn cyd-destun cymdeithasol-economaidd. Mae’n bleser gennyf ymateb i Dai Lloyd a dweud bod yn rhaid inni gydnabod yn agored bod iechyd pobl Cymru ymhell islaw cyfartaledd yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Mae lefelau iechyd yn ein cymunedau mwyaf difreintiedig ar waelod y tabl cynghrair Ewropeaidd. Mae hynny’n ffaith a buasai’n anghyfrifol ei hanwybyddu, a buasai’n bolisi gwael peidio â phwysleisio’r elfen hon o’r hinsawdd iechyd. Mae’n bwysig ei bod yng nghanol ein strategaeth.
Dai referred to the views of a former UK Conservative administration. It has never been our policy to deny that socio-economic factors influence health: it is clear from statistics that they do. Perhaps there is a criticism of a lack of emphasis, but the Conservative Government of 1980 had to restore an economy that was absolutely on its last legs. In transforming the economy, it raised the socio-economic standing of the people of Britain as a whole. That is our aim. That is what we did. Health statistics improved throughout our term of office. That is not to deny that we still have a long way to go.
Cyfeiriodd Dai at farn cyn-weinyddiaeth Geidwadol yn y DU. Ni fu erioed yn bolisi gennym i wadu bod ffactorau cymdeithasol-economaidd yn dylanwadu ar iechyd: mae’n glir o’r ystadegau eu bod yn gwneud hynny. Efallai bod beirniadaeth o ran diffyg pwyslais, ond bu’n rhaid i Lywodraeth Geidwadol 1980 adfer economi a oedd ar ddiffygio’n llwyr. Wrth drawsnewid yr economi, cododd statws cymdeithasol-economaidd pobl Prydain yn gyffredinol. Dyna ein nod. Dyna a wnaethom. Gwellodd yr ystadegau iechyd drwy gydol ein tymor mewn grym. Ni olyga hynny ein bod yn gwadu bod gennym ffordd bell i fynd o hyd.
Can you confirm, therefore, that the new, reinvented Michael Portillo will have redistribution of wealth at the centre of his policies?
A allwch gadarnhau, felly, y bydd ailddosbarthu cyfoeth wrth wraidd polisïau’r Michael Portillo newydd, sydd wedi’i ailddyfeisio?
The Conservative Party is a party for all the people of Britain, as Mr Portillo has made clear. We believe in wealth, and we believe that everyone ought to aspire to a comfortable living. That is always the aim of our policies. When people have a level of economic stability, all the health factors improve. That is important for people wherever they live, whatever their job, whatever their level of income. We need to increase wealth. That is why we are always keen to remember the importance of technological innovation and economic growth when we talk about sustainable development.
Mae’r Blaid Geidwadol yn blaid i holl bobl Prydain, fel y gwnaeth Mr Portillo yn glir. Credwn mewn cyfoeth, a chredwn y dylai pawb ymgeisio at fyw’n gyfforddus. Dyna nod ein polisïau bob amser. Pan fydd gan bobl lefel o sefydlogrwydd economaidd, mae’r ffactorau iechyd i gyd yn gwella. Mae hynny yn bwysig i bobl lle bynnag y maent yn byw, beth bynnag eu swydd, pa lefel bynnag y bo’u hincwm. Mae angen inni gynyddu cyfoeth. Dyna pam yr ydym yn awyddus bob amser i gofio pwysigrwydd dyfeisgarwch technolegol a thŵf economaidd wrth siarad am ddatblygu cynaliadwy.
Clearly, much needs to be done. There has been some encouraging progress identified by the Chief Medical Officer in relation to heart disease and some cancers. However, there has been a standstill or a deterioration on low birth weights, back pain, arthritis, smoking, alcohol consumption and oral health. I am not criticising the administration here, these facts would have been identified whoever was in government, but it does show how much work needs to be done.
Yn amlwg, mae angen gwneud llawer. Bu rhywfaint o gynnydd calonogol a nodwyd gan y Prif Swyddog Meddygol mewn perthynas â chlefyd y galon a rhai canserau. Fodd bynnag, ni fu cynnydd, yn wir bu dirywiad, o ran pwysau isel babanod a enir, poen cefn, arthritis, ysmygu, yfed alcohol a iechyd y geg. Ni feirniadaf y weinyddiaeth yma, buasai’r ffeithiau hyn wedi dod i’r wyneb pwy bynnag fuasai mewn grym, ond mae’n dangos cymaint o waith sydd angen ei wneud.
Much of the strategy can be warmly endorsed. I am particularly pleased to see the following areas: the cross-sectoral approach, which is perhaps a clunky piece of jargon and means co-operation between government, local and central, the NHS, employers—it is good to see that emphasised in the document—schools, a subject to which I will return shortly, communities and, of course, individuals themselves. They all have a role to play in promoting health and wellbeing.
Gellir cymeradwyo llawer o’r strategaeth yn fawr. Yr wyf yn arbennig o falch o weld y meysydd canlynol: yr ymagwedd draws-sectoraidd, sydd efallai yn ddarn trwsgl o jargon ac sydd yn golygu cydweithredu rhwng y llywodraeth, yn lleol ac yn ganolog, yr NHS, cyflogwyr—mae’n dda gweld hynny yn cael ei bwysleisio yn y ddogfen—ysgolion, pwnc y dychwelaf ato cyn hir, cymunedau ac, wrth gwrs, unigolion eu hunain. Mae gan bob un ohonynt rôl i’w chwarae wrth hybu iechyd a lles.
One of the main responses to the consultation was the need for more investment. I am glad that the report recommends that that must be taken forward, because in the past, priority was not always given to the role of health promotion and wellbeing. The NHS strategy will be launched in Wales in January. I am sure that it will reflect the priority of health promotion and the financial need to increase the level of resources to ensure that that strategy can be taken forward thoroughly.
Un o’r prif ymatebion i’r ymgynghoriad oedd yr angen am fwy o fuddsoddi. Yr wyf yn falch fod yr adroddiad yn argymell bod yn rhaid datblygu hynny, oherwydd yn y gorffennol, ni roddwyd blaenoriaeth i rôl hybu iechyd a lles bob amser. Lansir strategaeth yr NHS yng Nghymru yn Ionawr. Yr wyf yn siŵr y bydd yn adlewyrchu blaenoriaeth hybu iechyd a’r angen ariannol i gynyddu lefel yr adnoddau i sicrhau y gellir datblygu’r strategaeth honno yn drwyadl.
The role of the voluntary sector is recognised. That is appropriate, particularly when we consider support groups for people who have certain conditions and diseases. The role of the voluntary sector in communities is vital. When we discuss improving the capacity of communities to improve the standard of living economically, and across a wide cultural range, including literacy standards and education, the voluntary sector is often better and more efficient and nearer the grass roots level than Government agencies. That must be remembered.
Cydnabyddir rôl y sector gwirfoddol. Mae hynny yn briodol, yn arbennig pan ystyriwn grwpiau cymorth i bobl sydd yn dioddef o gyflyrau ac afiechydon penodol. Mae rôl y sector gwirfoddol mewn cymunedau yn hanfodol. Pan drafodwn wella gallu cymunedau i wella safon byw yn economaidd, ac ar draws ystod ddiwylliannol eang, gan gynnwys safonau llythrennedd ac addysg, mae’r sector gwirfoddol yn aml yn well ac yn fwy effeithlon ac yn agosach at lefel llawr gwlad nag asiantaethau’r Llywodraeth. Rhaid cofio hynny.
I welcome the references to carers in the document. Carers and young carers, in particular, explicitly recognise that they are at a greater risk of suffering ill-health. I could mention, for instance, mental health. Carers have a great propensity to suffer mental health problems. They also have a greater propensity to suffer from accidents and injury due to carrying the patients and helping them in and out of baths or up and down stairs. All these things must be recognised.
Croesawaf y cyfeiriadau at gynhalwyr yn y ddogfen. Mae cynhalwyr a chynhalwyr ifanc, yn benodol, yn cydnabod yn agored eu bod mewn mwy o berygl o ddioddef salwch. Gallwn grybwyll, er enghraifft, iechyd meddwl. Mae tuedd fawr i gynhalwyr ddioddef problemau iechyd meddwl. Maent yn fwy tueddol hefyd i ddioddef damweiniau ac anafiadau drwy gario’r cleifion a’u helpu i mewn ac allan o faddonau neu i fyny ac i lawr y grisiau. Rhaid cydnabod y pethau hyn i gyd.
I will mention two aspects of the strategy in particular, schools and mental health. Perhaps one of the greatest aspects of the health promotion policy for the health of future generations is that we get health promotion and wellbeing right in schools. There are several areas in which schools cannot be bettered by any other approach than a battering ram to change individual behaviour and to break peer group pressure, where that seems to be a factor and a barrier. For example, anti-smoking measures. There are two elements in this. Stopping young people from smoking is perhaps the first priority. Most smokers have started to smoke by the age of 16. Few people start smoking when they are adults. Therefore, discouraging young people from smoking is clearly important. I referred earlier in a question to the Minister for Health and Social Services that 70 per cent of people who are presented for cardiac surgery are smokers. There is a huge health gain in stopping people from smoking. However, we must remember the growing efficacy of smoking cessation measures. It is sometimes difficult to prescribe these measures to young people. We need to develop a policy and issue guidance that will allow young people access to the growing range of smoking cessation treatments that are available. It is important that we do not simply encourage people with good habits, but identify those who start smoking when they are young and encourage them to try to give up.
Crybwyllaf ddwy agwedd ar y strategaeth yn benodol, sef ysgolion a iechyd meddwl. Efallai mai un o’r agweddau mwyaf ar y polisi hybu iechyd ar gyfer iechyd cenedlaethau i’r dyfodol yw ein bod yn ymdrin yn iawn â hybu iechyd a lles mewn ysgolion. Mae nifer o feysydd lle na ellir gwella ysgolion drwy unrhyw ymagwedd arall heblaw dyrnhwrdd i newid ymddygiad unigol a thorri ar bwysau cymheiriaid, lle ymddengys hynny yn ffactor ac yn rhwystr. Er enghraifft, mesurau gwrth-ysmygu. Mae dwy elfen yn hyn. Atal pobl ifanc rhag ysmygu yw’r flaenoriaeth gyntaf efallai. Mae’r rhan fwyaf o ysmygwyr wedi dechrau ysmygu erbyn 16 oed. Prin yw’r bobl sydd yn dechrau ysmygu pan fyddant yn oedolion. Felly, yn amlwg, mae annog pobl ifanc i beidio ag ysmygu yn bwysig. Cyfeiriais yn gynharach mewn cwestiwn i’r Gweinidog dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol bod 70 y cant o bobl a gyflwynir am lawdriniaeth ar y galon yn ysmygu. Mae elw enfawr o ran iechyd i atal pobl rhag ysmygu. Fodd bynnag, rhaid inni gofio effeithiolrwydd cynyddol mesurau atal ysmygu. Weithiau mae’n anodd rhagnodi’r mesurau hyn i bobl ifanc. Mae angen inni ddatblygu polisi a chyhoeddi arweiniad a fydd yn caniatáu i bobl ifanc gael mynediad i’r amrywiaeth gynyddol o driniaethau atal ysmygu sydd ar gael. Mae’n bwysig ein bod nid yn unig yn annog pobl ag arferion da, ond yn nodi’r rheini sydd yn dechrau ysmygu pan yn ifanc ac yn eu hannog i geisio rhoi’r gorau iddo.
Nutrition is a vital area. People who eat well, particularly in their early years, but throughout life have a lower chance of suffering serious disease. Good habits can be acquired in schools, not only the importance of a balanced diet, but how to get a balanced diet, in terms of where you purchase food and how you prepare that food. How to prepare certain vegetables is sometimes a mystery to people. We must recognise that. It is intimidating for people to go to the green grocer or supermarket, if they have access—which is another problem—and see the vegetables, but not realise how to prepare them and how delicious they are.
Mae maeth yn faes hanfodol. Mae pobl sydd yn bwyta’n dda, yn arbennig yn eu blynyddoedd cynnar, ond drwy gydol bywyd yn llai tebygol o ddioddef afiechyd difrifol. Gellir meithrin arferion da mewn ysgolion, nid yn unig bwysigrwydd deiet cytbwys, ond sut i gael deiet cytbwys, yn nhermau ble i brynu bwyd a sut i baratoi’r bwyd hwnnw. Mae sut i baratoi llysiau arbennig yn ddirgelwch i bobl weithiau. Rhaid inni gydnabod hynny. Mae’n brofiad bygythiol i bobl fynd i’r siop ffrwythau neu’r archfarchnad, os gallant gyrraedd yno—sydd yn broblem arall—a gweld y llysiau, ond heb sylweddoli sut i’w paratoi a pha mor flasus y maent.
Physical exercise is another important area. Acquiring good habits when you are young that are sustained through adulthood are a great way to improve your health and sustain your wellbeing. Only a quarter of adults take the recommended level of exercise. That is a serious problem and one that we must tackle. One of the best places to start is in schools and colleges.
Mae ymarfer corff yn faes pwysig arall. Mae meithrin arferion da pan yn ifanc a’u cynnal drwy fywyd oedolyn yn ffordd wych o wella eich iechyd a chynnal eich lles. Dim ond chwarter oedolion sydd yn cymryd y lefel o ymarfer corff a argymhellir. Mae hynny yn broblem ddifrifol ac yn un y mae’n rhaid inni fynd i’r afael â hi. Un o’r mannau gorau i ddechrau yw mewn ysgolion a cholegau.
There is also the importance of sexual health awareness. We must have a policy that is effective and deals with the issues that young people face. If we do not discuss them, then they can be swamped by ignorance and inappropriate peer group pressure. We must acknowledge the shame that Wales has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in western Europe. That is bad for mothers and for the children that they have at an inappropriately young age. We must do something about the rates of teenage pregnancy.
Hefyd mae pwysigrwydd ymwybyddiaeth o iechyd rhywiol. Rhaid inni gael polisi sydd yn effeithiol ac sydd yn ymdrin â’r materion y mae pobl ifanc yn eu hwynebu. Os na thrafodwn hwy, yna gallant gael eu boddi mewn anwybodaeth a phwysedd amhriodol cymheiriaid. Rhaid inni gydnabod y cywilydd bod gan Gymru un o’r cyfraddau uchaf yng ngorllewin Ewrop o feichiogrwydd ymhlith merched yn eu harddegau. Mae hynny yn wael i famau ac i’r plant a gânt pan fyddant yn amhriodol o ifanc. Rhaid inni wneud rhywbeth am gyfraddau beichiogrwydd merched yn eu harddegau.
I turn to mental health. The document refers in depth to mental health issues several times. In the past, this has been overlooked, and I welcome this aspect of the strategy. We cannot lose sight of the importance of mental health in people’s health and wellbeing. It is a growing problem, according to the World Health Organisation. Indeed, the WHO considers that by 2020, the biggest public health problem facing western societies will be mental health. The problem is already appearing in our own population. In 1998, one in seven adults reported treatment for a mental health problem, which was a significant increase from the levels in the early 1990s. The WHO also recognises that the young are increasingly at risk. We have a developing child and adolescent mental health strategy, which is to be welcomed. It is an area that needs particular expertise in encouraging young people to access services. There are already barriers for people with mental health problems, but there are even more if you are young.
Trof at iechyd meddwl. Cyfeiria’r ddogfen yn fanwl at faterion yn ymwneud â iechyd meddwl sawl gwaith. Yn y gorffennol, anwybyddwyd hyn, a chroesawaf yr agwedd hon ar y strategaeth. Ni allwn golli golwg ar bwysigrwydd iechyd meddwl ar iechyd a lles pobl. Mae’n broblem gynyddol, yn ôl Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd. Yn wir, ystyria’r sefydliad hwnnw mai’r broblem fwyaf o ran iechyd y cyhoedd a fydd yn wynebu cymdeithasau gorllewinol erbyn 2020 fydd iechyd meddwl. Mae’r broblem yn ymddangos eisoes yn ein poblogaeth ein hunain. Yn 1998, nododd un oedolyn o bob saith iddynt gael eu trin am broblem iechyd meddwl, a oedd yn gynnydd sylweddol o’r lefelau ar ddechrau’r 1990au. Mae Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd hefyd yn cydnabod bod yr ifanc mewn perygl cynyddol. Mae gennym strategaeth iechyd meddwl yn datblygu i blant a phobl ifanc yn eu harddegau, sydd i’w groesawu. Mae’n faes lle mae angen arbenigedd penodol wrth annog pobl ifanc i fanteisio ar wasanaethau. Mae rhwystrau eisoes i bobl â phroblemau iechyd meddwl, ond mae hyd yn oed mwy os ydych yn ifanc.
We must remember the difficulties that people with mental health problems face in sustaining their recovery. Let us send out a positive message that, when people seek treatment for mental health difficulties, the prognosis is excellent and the treatments and therapies are becoming more effective. However, people can encounter real problems when they try to re-enter the workforce or if they try to retain a job when a mental health problem first manifests itself. We must take up this issue with employers and also consider our own procedures. How do we relate to people who have had mental health difficulties? How do we support them when they return to a job that they left due to sickness, or if they come into a job with the Government or the private sector?
Rhaid inni gofio’r anawsterau y mae pobl â phroblemau iechyd meddwl yn eu hwynebu yn y broses o’u gwella. Gadewch inni anfon neges gadarnhaol bod y rhagolygon, pan fo pobl yn ceisio triniaeth ar gyfer anawsterau iechyd meddwl, yn wych a bod y triniaethau a’r therapïau yn dod yn fwy effeithiol. Fodd bynnag, gall pobl ddod wyneb yn wyneb â phroblemau gwirioneddol pan geisiant ailymuno â’r gweithlu neu os ceisiant gadw swydd pan ddaw problem iechyd meddwl i’r wyneb gyntaf. Rhaid inni fynd i’r afael â’r mater hwn gyda chyflogwyr a hefyd ystyried ein gweithdrefnau ein hunain. Sut yr ydym yn ymwneud â phobl sydd wedi cael anawsterau iechyd meddwl? Sut yr ydym yn eu cefnogi pan ddychwelant i swydd a adawsant oherwydd salwch, neu os dechreuant swydd gyda’r Llywodraeth neu’r sector preifat?
The drugs with few side effects are one of the most promising things for people with mental health difficulties. The serious side effects that used to effect people on different drug regimes can now be overcome. However, people must have access to these new treatments. They are usually more expensive, but it is an important element of equity in the health service that people with mental health problems are given access to the best drugs available with the fewest side effects. The number of people who have stopped taking drugs for a particular mental health problem is far too high. One of the reasons for poor compliance is the side effects.
Y cyffuriau heb lawer o sgîl-effeithiau yw un o’r pethau mwyaf addawol i bobl ag anawsterau iechyd meddwl. Erbyn hyn gellir goresgyn y sgîl-effeithiau difrifol a arferai effeithio ar bobl ar wahanol drefnau cyffuriau. Fodd bynnag, rhaid i bobl gael manteisio ar y triniaethau newydd hyn. Fel arfer maent yn ddrutach, ond mae’n elfen bwysig o degwch yn y gwasanaeth iechyd bod pobl â phroblemau iechyd meddwl yn cael manteisio ar y cyffuriau gorau sydd ar gael gyda’r sgîl-effeithiau lleiaf posibl. Mae nifer y bobl a roddodd y gorau i gymryd cyffuriau at broblem iechyd meddwl benodol yn llawer rhy uchel. Un o’r rhesymau am y diffyg cydymffurfio yw’r sgîl-effeithiau.
The importance of cognitive therapies ought to be remembered. I have talked to many people with mental health difficulties who say that they accept that drug treatment is important, but that it would encourage them if they could talk to people about their difficulties: the destructive ideas, the thoughts that they have and the voices that they hear. These are important areas that can sometimes be helped by cognitive approaches as well as the drug therapies that are proven effective.
Dylid cofio pwysigrwydd therapïau gwybyddol. Yr wyf wedi siarad â llawer o bobl ag anawsterau iechyd meddwl sydd yn dweud eu bod yn derbyn bod triniaeth cyffuriau yn bwysig, ond y buasai siarad â phobl am eu hanawsterau yn eu calonogi: y syniadau dinistriol, y meddyliau a gânt a’r lleisiau a glywant. Mae’r rhain yn feysydd pwysig y gellir eu helpu weithiau drwy ymagweddau gwybyddol yn ogystal â therapïau cyffuriau y’u profwyd yn effeithiol.
I commend the work of Health Promotion Wales. The work has been internationally acclaimed and we should remember that. We now have a different approach. It is one that we as a party did not welcome, but I do not want to dwell on that. We wish the new structure well. The organisation has been absorbed into the Assembly and we will not prejudge its performance. However, there has now been a disaggregation. There is far more emphasis on local health authorities performing health promotion roles, whereas Health Promotion Wales was itself a special health authority. This new approach and structure has, no doubt, much to recommend it and I hope that the advantages of the new system will be fully exploited. However, I ask the Minister whether, when we review this strategy in five years time, she will consider how effective the new arrangements have been in light of the success of Health Promotion Wales. You must remember that we are discussing a strategy that will last 10 years and many of these factors will only be measured over that timescale. However, I commend the motion and the amendments to the Assembly.
Cymeradwyaf waith Hybu Iechyd Cymru. Canmolwyd y gwaith yn rhyngwladol a dylem gofio hynny. Bellach mae gennym ymagwedd wahanol. Mae’n ymagwedd na wnaethom fel plaid ei chroesawu, ond nid wyf am oedi gyda hynny. Dymunwn yn dda i’r strwythur newydd. Ymgorfforwyd y sefydliad i mewn i’r Cynulliad ac ni ragfarnwn ei berfformiad. Fodd bynnag, bellach bu ymwahanu. Mae llawer mwy o bwyslais ar awdurdodau iechyd lleol yn perfformio swyddogaethau hybu iechyd, lle yr oedd Hybu Iechyd Cymru yn awdurdod iechyd arbennig ynddo’i hun. Yn ddi-os, mae i’r ymagwedd a’r strwythur newydd hyn lawer i’w hargymell a gobeithiaf y gwneir y defnydd mwyaf posibl o fanteision y system newydd. Fodd bynnag, gofynnaf i’r Gweinidog p’un a wnaiff, pan adolygwn y strategaeth hon ymhen pum mlynedd, ystyried pa mor effeithiol y bu’r trefniadau newydd yng ngoleuni llwyddiant Hybu Iechyd Cymru. Rhaid ichi gofio ein bod yn trafod strategaeth a fydd yn para am 10 mlynedd a dim ond dros y raddfa amser honno y mesurir llawer o’r ffactorau hyn. Fodd bynnag, cymeradwyaf y cynnig a’r gwelliannau i’r Cynulliad.
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 46
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 46
I remind those who propose amendments that they have five minutes. I did not stop either person this time because I think that we will have enough time for everybody to speak. However, the Presiding Officer has allowed an interruption of business for the Government to make a statement on the award of world heritage status to Blaenavon.
Atgoffaf y rheini sydd yn cynnig gwelliannau mai pum munud sydd ganddynt. Nid ateliais unrhyw berson y tro hwn oherwydd credaf bod gennym ddigon o amser i bawb siarad. Fodd bynnag, caniataodd y Llywydd ymyriad busnes er mwyn i’r Llywodraeth wneud datganiad ar ddyfarnu statws treftadaeth y byd i Flaenafon.
Datganiad ar Flaenafon
Statement on Blaenavon
Sue Essex The Minister for Environment spoken in English p. 47
Sue Essex Y Gweinidog dros yr Amgylchedd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 47
I inform Assembly Members of some excellent news. We have just heard that at its world heritage committee meeting in Australia, the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation has awarded world heritage status to the Blaenavon industrial landscape. [Applause.] It is nice to stand here with some good news. In terms of its international importance and the evidence of human achievement that it provides, this places Blaenavon in the same category as the Pyramids and the Taj Mahal. Until now only 18 UK sites had been awarded this accolade, including Stonehenge, the Tower of London, and in Wales, the castles and town walls in Gwynedd.
Hysbysaf Aelodau’r Cynulliad am newyddion ardderchog. Yr ydym newydd glywed bod Sefydliad Addysg, Gwyddoniaeth a Diwylliant y Cenhedloedd Unedig wedi dyfarnu statws treftadaeth y byd i dirwedd ddiwydiannol Blaenafon, yn ei gyfarfod pwyllgor treftadaeth y byd yn Awstralia. [Cymeradwyaeth.] Mae’n braf sefyll yma gyda newyddion da. O ran ei bwysigrwydd rhyngwladol a’r dystiolaeth o gyflawniad dynol a ddarperir gan hyn, mae’n rhoi Blaenafon yn yr un categori â’r Pyramidiau a’r Taj Mahal. Dim ond 18 safle yn y DU a gafodd y clod yma hyd yma, gan gynnwys Côr y Cewri, Tŵr Llundain, ac yng Nghymru, gestyll a muriau trefi yng Ngwynedd.
With its evocative remains of early ironworks, railways, waterways, mines, quarries and workers’ houses, the Blaenavon industrial landscape is one of the best places in the world to see the course and consequences of the industrial revolution. Significantly, the industrial landscape covers about 50 square kilometres. Focal points include the preserved remains of the Blaenavon ironworks in the care of Cadw, Big Pit Mining Museum and the town of Blaenavon itself. The area is also of international importance for its extraordinary landscape of former mineral workings extending over the hills around the town. The landscape tells the history and the story of this remarkable place. We can only glimpse the extent of the hard work and toil of the past workers in the Blaenavon area and we can respect the contribution these people made to the economic development we all take for granted.
Gyda’i olion atgofus o weithfeydd haearn, rheilffyrdd, dyfrffyrdd, pyllau, chwareli a thai gweithwyr cynnar, mae tirwedd ddiwydiannol Blaenafon yn un o’r lleoedd gorau yn y byd i weld hynt a chanlyniadau’r chwyldro diwydiannol. Yn arwyddocaol, mae’r tirwedd ddiwydiannol yn cwmpasu tua 50 o gilomedrau sgwâr. Ymhlith y prif fannau mae olion gwaith haearn Blaenafon a gadwyd ac sydd yng ngofal Cadw, Amgueddfa Lofaol y Pwll Mawr a thref Blaenafon ei hun. Mae’r ardal hefyd yn bwysig yn rhyngwladol oherwydd ei thirwedd anhygoel o hen weithiau mwynau sydd yn estyn dros y bryniau o gwmpas y dref. Mae’r dirwedd yn adrodd hanes a stori’r lle anhygoel hwn. Dim ond cael cipolwg ar waith a llafur caled cyn-weithwyr ardal Blaenafon y gallwn ei wneud a gallwn barchu’r cyfraniad a wnaeth y bobl hyn i’r datblygiad economaidd y cymera pob un ohonom yn ganiataol.
Getting world heritage status has been a long haul. Blaenavon was first recommended in 1994, but we had to wait for a new list—called a tentative list—of candidates to be compiled, which takes place only every 10 years. When this happened in 1999 Blaenavon won its place on its recognised merits and was the first UK site from the new list to go forward for nomination. The outcome is a testimony to the hard work and dedication of many people, but in particular I compliment Torfaen County Borough Council and congratulate it on this achievement, which has included the production of a conservation management plan which I understand UNESCO has said is a shining example of its kind.
Bu’n dasg anodd cael statws treftadaeth y byd. Argymhellwyd Blaenafon yn gyntaf yn 1994, ond bu’n rhaid inni aros i restr newydd—sef rhestr betrus—o ymgeiswyr gael ei llunio, sydd ond yn digwydd bob deng mlynedd. Pan ddigwyddodd hyn yn 1999, enillodd Blaenafon ei le yn sgîl ei rinweddau a chydnabuwyd y safle fel y cyntaf yn y DU o’r rhestr newydd i fynd ymlaen i gael ei enwebu. Mae’r canlyniad yn dystiolaeth i waith caled ac ymroddiad llawer o bobl, ond canmolaf Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Tor-faen yn benodol ac fe’i llongyfarchaf am y cyflawniad hwn, sydd wedi cynnwys llunio cynllun rheoli cadwraeth y deallaf y dywedodd UNESCO ei fod yn enghraifft wych o’i fath.
I am delighted to make this announcement, as I have for many years wanted to see our industrial contribution uniquely recognised in the world context. It has taken considerable imagination, creativity and determination to achieve this heritage status. It is a huge tribute to those individuals and organisations that have worked hard for this day.
Yr wyf wrth fy modd yn gwneud y cyhoeddiad hwn, gan fy mod ers llawer o flynyddoedd wedi bod yn awyddus bod ein cyfraniad diwydiannol yn cael ei gydnabod fel un unigryw yng nghyd-destun byd-eang. Cymerodd lawer o ddychymyg, gallu creadigol a phenderfyniad i gyflawni’r statws treftadaeth hwn. Mae’n deyrnged enfawr i’r unigolion a’r sefydliadau hynny sydd wedi gweithio’n galed ar gyfer y diwrnod hwn.
The news is a welcome recognition of Wales’s outstanding contribution to the industrial revolution and the endeavour of the many generations that have lived and worked around Blaenavon. This excellent landscape will now be recognised and interpreted for future generations to understand and enjoy. It is good news for Blaenavon and for Wales.
Mae’r newyddion yn gydnabyddiaeth ganologol o gyfraniad eithriadol Cymru i’r chwyldro diwydiannol ac ymdrech y cenedlaethau niferus sydd wedi byw a gweithio o gwmpas Blaenafon. Caiff y dirwedd ardderchog hon ei chydnabod a’i dehongli yn awr fel y gall cenedlaethau yn y dyfodol ei deall a’i mwynhau. Mae’n newyddion da i Flaenafon ac i Gymru.
Thank you, Sue, for wonderful news. I join you in thanking the many people who have worked for a long time to achieve this. When I visit a new country I always get the UNESCO list. I hope that many visitors to the UK will do the same and visit Blaenavon and the Cordell country. I remember my first visit on family business nearly 40 years ago. It was a journey back in time to a special part of our history and the history of the world. You will not be surprised that when I lived in Sweden, I never missed the opportunity to remind everyone that the Thomas process, responsible for the industrialisation of Sweden and Germany, came from Blaenavon and that Gilchrist Thomas was Welsh. Over the past year, if anyone has dared in my presence to question whether Blaenavon could be compared with the Taj Mahal, they have received a straight answer—Blaenavon was far more important. Would you agree that the new status of Blaenavon gives us a wonderful opportunity to develop the huge potential for tourism across the heads of the Valleys, all the way from Blaenavon to Neath? We have a combination of superb landscape, a wide range of recreational opportunities, this unique industrial heritage and a social heritage of which we can be proud.
Diolch i chi, Sue, am newyddion ardderchog. Ymunaf â chi i ddiolch i’r nifer fawr o bobl a weithiodd ers amser hir i gyflawni hyn. Pan ymwelaf â gwlad newydd, caf restr UNESCO bob tro. Gobeithiaf y bydd llawer o ymwelwyr i’r DU yn gwneud yr un peth ac yn ymweld â Blaenafon a gwlad Cordell. Cofiaf fy ymweliad cyntaf yn ymwneud â busnes teuluol bron i 40 mlynedd yn ôl. Bu’n daith yn ôl mewn amser i ran arbennig o’n hanes ac o hanes y byd. Pan fûm yn byw yn Sweden, ni synnwch na chollais erioed y cyfle i atgoffa pawb bod proses Thomas, oedd yn gyfrifol am ddiwydianeiddio Sweden a’r Almaen, wedi dod o Flaenafon ac mai Cymro oedd Gilchrist Thomas. Dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, os meiddiodd unrhyw un ger fy mron gwestiynu a ellid cymharu Blaenafon â’r Taj Mahal, cawsant ateb union—bu Blaenafon yn llawer pwysicach. A gytunwch y rhydd statws newydd Blaenafon gyfle gwych inni ddatblygu’r potensial enfawr ar gyfer twristiaeth ar draws blaenau’r Cymoedd, yr holl ffordd o Flaenafon i Gastell-nedd? Mae cyfuniad gennym o dirwedd gwych, amrywiaeth eang o gyfleoedd hamdden, y dreftadaeth ddiwydiannol unigryw hon a threftadaeth gymdeithasol y gallwn ymfalchïo ynddi.
Let us not forget that this area did not only make a pioneering contribution to the growth of industry but also to the development of socialist ideas, the trade union movement and the welfare state; the birthplace of the NHS is only a few miles away. Would you agree that the Assembly should ensure that any necessary environmental work, transport provision—including much better public transport—and any necessary planning guidelines should have the highest priority? Would you also agree that the Assembly should ensure that economic support should be given for all the other features of a successful tourist industry—hotels, restaurants, night-clubs—so that the whole region will benefit from this wonderful news and get a just reward for its contribution to Wales and the world?
Peidiwn ag anghofio nad dim ond tuag at dwf diwydiant y cyfrannodd yr ardal hon ond hefyd at ddatblygu syniadau sosialaidd, mudiad yr undebau llafur a’r wladwriaeth les; dim ond ychydig o filltiroedd i ffwrdd y mae man geni’r NHS. A gytunwch y dylai’r Cynulliad sicrhau y rhoddir y flaenoriaeth uchaf i unrhyw waith amgylcheddol, darpariaeth trafnidiaeth—gan gynnwys cludiant cyhoeddus llawer gwell—a unrhyw ganllawiau cynllunio sydd eu hangen? A gytunech hefyd y dylai’r Cynulliad sicrhau y rhoddir cymorth economaidd ar gyfer pob nodwedd arall o ddiwydiant twristaidd llwyddiannus—gwestai, bwytai, clybiau nos—fel y bydd yr ardal gyfan yn elwa ar y newyddion ardderchog hyn ac yn cael gwobr haeddiannol am ei chyfraniad tuag at Gymru a’r byd?
Phil raised three critical points. I am glad to see his enthusiasm. He feels like I do. It is so exciting. First, his point about this being a huge area of opportunity, both economically and geographically, taking in Merthyr and other areas; the Cyfarthfa ironworks are being looked at now. This is not only about Blaenavon. There is a big story to tell in south Wales. I agree with that.
Cododd Phil dri phwynt hanfodol. Yr wyf yn falch o weld ei frwdfrydedd. Teimla fel minnau. Mae mor gyffrous. Yn gyntaf, ei bwynt fod hyn ym faes cyfle enfawr, yn economaidd ac yn ddaearyddol, gan gynnwys Merthyr ac ardaloedd eraill; caiff gwaith haearn Cyfarthfa ei ystyried ar hyn o bryd. Nid yn ymwneud â Blaenafon yn unig y mae hyn. Mae stori fawr i’w hadrodd yn ne Cymru. Cytunaf â hynny.
Secondly, being a socialist and proud of it, I would be happy to support the view that there is also an underlying story to tell. As you say, when someone asks whether this is as important as the Taj Mahal, I say that it is, because the recognition is of a people as well as artefacts. That is the important message. It tells the relationship of a people to that landscape and to the opportunity. UNESCO has recognised that and the importance of industrial heritage.
Yn ail, gan fy mod yn sosialydd ac yn falch o hynny, byddwn yn fodlon cefnogi’r farn bod stori gudd i’w hadrodd hefyd. Fel y dywedwch, pan ofynna rhywun a yw hyn mor bwysig â’r Taj Mahal, dywedaf ei fod, gan ei fod yn cydnabod pobl yn ogystal â phethau. Dyna’r neges bwysig. Dywed am berthynas pobl â’r dirwedd honno ac â’r cyfle. Cydnabu UNESCO hynny a phwysigrwydd treftadaeth ddiwydiannol.
Thirdly, the economic opportunities to translate this into wellbeing for the people who need jobs now and in the future. That is the next stage. Having talked to the people who have been involved in getting this so far, I know that they are full of ideas of how that may be progressed and translated into economic regeneration of the area. All Members would want to search out the opportunities in the many ways that we can—together with the partners, because this has been a huge partnership operation—and do our best to complement those and put in place the mechanisms to make it work.
Yn drydydd, y cyfleoedd economaidd i drosi hyn i fod er lles y bobl sydd angen swyddi yn awr ac yn y dyfodol. Dyna’r cam nesaf. Gan fy mod wedi siarad â’r bobl a gymerodd ran i gyrraedd mor bell â hyn, gwn eu bod yn llawn syniadau am sut y gellir symud hynny ymlaen a’i drosi i adfywio’r ardal yn economaidd. Byddai pob Aelod yn awyddus i chwilio am y cyfleoedd yn y nifer o ffyrdd a allwn—ar y cyd â’r partneriaid, gan i hwn fod yn waith partneriaeth enfawr—a gwneud ein gorau i ategu’r rheini ac i sefydlu’r dulliau i wneud i hynny weithio.
I am grateful to Sue for making this statement and recognising an important day for Blaenavon, for my constituency and for Wales as a whole. I take this opportunity to record my thanks to all the Members who signed my statement of opinion supporting the world heritage site bid. Every Member who was not in the Cabinet or a party leader signed it and I am grateful for that support. I ask Members to continue this support for the world heritage site by coming to Blaenavon, visiting the site, and spreading the good news about what is there, in your constituencies.
Yr wyf yn ddiolchgar i Sue am wneud y datganiad hwn ac am gydnabod diwrnod pwysig i Flaenafon, i’m hetholaeth ac i Gymru gyfan. Cymeraf y cyfle hwn i gofnodi fy niolch i’r holl Aelodau a lofnododd fy natganiad barn yn cefnogi’r cynnig i fod yn safle treftadaeth y byd. Fe’i llofnodwyd gan bob Aelod nad oedd yn y Cabinet neu’n arweinydd plaid ac yr wyf yn ddiolchgar am y gefnogaeth honno. Gofynnaf i’r Aelodau barhau â’u cefnogaeth i’r safle drwy ddod i Flaenafon, drwy ymweld â’r safle, a thrwy ledaenu’r newyddion da am yr hyn sydd yno, yn eich etholaethau.
It is important that, as an Assembly, we take forward our support for the world heritage site in an energetic way. What further measures can be taken, in particular in relation to Big Pit Mining Museum? There are outstanding funding issues, including some £1.2 million capital funding that is needed to draw down the £5 million grant from the lottery. I am grateful for the remarks that you made about the partnership and in particular about Torfaen County Borough Council, which has shown enormous imagination in taking this bid forward. Blaenavon and other valley towns were built on the sweat and struggle of working people. Would you agree that above all else this announcement is a tribute to those people? Would you agree that it is the tribute to their heroism that will secure a much brighter future for Blaenavon and the surrounding valleys towns?
Mae’n bwysig inni fel Cynulliad ddatblygu ein cefnogaeth i’r safle treftadaeth y byd mewn ffordd egnïol. Pa fesurau pellach y gellir eu cymryd, yn enwedig mewn perthynas ag Amgueddfa Lofaol y Pwll Mawr? Mae materion ariannu sydd heb eu penderfynu, gan gynnwys £1.2 miliwn o arian cyfalaf sydd ei angen er mwyn cael y grant o £5 miliwn gan y loteri. Yr wyf yn ddiolchgar am y sylwadau a wnaethoch am y bartneriaeth ac am Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Tor-faen yn benodol, a ddangosodd lawer iawn o ddychymyg wrth ddatblygu’r cynnig hwn. Adeiladwyd Blaenafon a threfi eraill yn y cymoedd ar chwys a brwydr y gweithwyr. A gytunech fod y cyhoeddiad hwn yn deyrnged i’r bobl hynny yn anad dim? A gytunech ei fod yn deyrnged i’w harwriaeth a fydd yn sicrhau dyfodol llawer disgleiriach i Flaenafon a’r trefi cyfagos yn y cymoedd?
Thank you for those erudite words at the end. It is true. Lynne and I were there when the good news came through by modern technology, which would have been unthought of when the hard work was going into Blaenavon. It made you think seriously about what it must have been like to work in that area—the hardship and the toil of translating that place into a living for people. It makes us all feel quite sombre to think that at that stage such hard work went into transforming that part of south Wales and its contribution to the world. I hope that this pays some respect to that dedication and toil so many years ago.
Diolch am y geiriau dysgedig hynny ar y diwedd. Mae’n wir. Yr oedd Lynne a minnau yno pan ddaeth y newyddion da drwy gyfrwng technoleg fodern, na fyddai pobl wedi clywed amdano pan oedd y gwaith caled yn mynd yn ei flaen i greu Blaenafon. Gwnaeth ichi feddwl o ddifrif sut deimlad ydoedd i weithio yn yr ardal honno—y caledi a’r llafur o drosi’r lle hwnnw i fod yn fywoliaeth i bobl. Gwna i bob un ohonom deimlo’n eithaf digalon wrth feddwl bod cymaint o waith caled wedi ei gyflawni yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw er mwyn trawsnewid y rhan honno o dde Cymru a’i chyfraniad i’r byd. Gobeithio bod hyn yn talu rhywfaint o deyrnged i’r ymroddiad a’r llafur hwnnw gymaint o flynyddoedd yn ôl.
Cadw has put substantial sums of money into the ironworks and continues to do so. That is a core feature, which will be part of attracting people to look at this unique landscape. You are right, Lynne, we need to follow this up in all sorts of ways. Now that the uncertainty of will it or will it not be granted this status has been removed, now that we know that it has, we can see how much that has been a catalyst to other sites in the world. I have seen sites that are not as well known as the Taj Mahal and the Pyramids, that have nevertheless managed to turn this recognition into an economic opportunity, which is what we must to do. We need to consider all our budgets and our partners’ budgets to ensure that those elements are in place to fulfil this dream of regenerating the area.
Rhoddodd Cadw symiau sylweddol o arian i’r gweithfeydd haearn a pharha i wneud hynny. Mae hynny yn nodwedd graidd, a fydd yn rhan o ddenu pobl i edrych ar y dirwedd unigryw hon. Yr ydych yn gywir, Lynne, mae angen inni ddatblygu hyn mewn llawer o ffyrdd. Gan fod yr ansicrwydd ynglŷn ag a ddyfernir y statws hwnnw ai peidio wedi’i ddiddymu, a chan ein bod yn gwybod yn awr ei fod wedi cael y statws, gallwn weld i ba raddau y bu hynny’n gatalydd i safleoedd eraill yn y byd. Gwelais safleoedd nad ydynt mor enwog â’r Taj Mahal a’r Pyramidiau, ond a lwyddodd, serch hynny, i droi’r gydnabyddiaeth hon yn gyfle economaidd, sef yr hyn y mae’n rhaid i ni ei wneud. Rhaid inni ystyried pob un o’n cyllidebau a chyllidebau ein partneriaid er mwyn sicrhau bod yr elfennau hynny yn eu lle er mwyn cyflawni’r freuddwyd hon o adfywio’r ardal.
Diolch am y cyfle i ymateb fel Cadeirydd y Pwyllgor Diwylliant. Mae’r Pwyllgor yn croesawu’r newyddion hyn ac yn llongyfarch Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Tor-faen a’r holl bartneriaid a fu’n rhan o’r broses o sicrhau’r gydnabyddiaeth hon. Ategaf yr hyn a ddywedwyd, sef ein bod yn gobeithio y bydd y weinyddiaeth yn sicrhau pob cefnogaeth i’r bartneriaeth i symud ymlaen i sicrhau budd economaidd a chymdeithasol o’r gydnabyddiaeth hon i ardal Blaenafon.
Thank you for the opportunity to respond as Chair of the Culture Committee. The Committee welcomes this news and congratulates Torfaen County Borough Council and all the partners that have been part of the process of securing this recognition. I reiterate what has been said, namely that we hope that the administration will ensure every support for the partnership to move forward to ensure economic and social benefit from this recognition for the Blaenavon area.
Ar bwynt ehangach, a fydd y Gweinidog yn awr yn sicrhau pob cefnogaeth ar gyfer ardaloedd eraill a all gynrychioli agweddau gwahanol, ond yr un mor bwysig, ar draddodiad, treftadaeth a hanes Cymru sydd yn haeddu cydnabyddiaeth ryngwladol fel ein bod yn gweithio gyda’n gilydd i sicrhau bod delwedd Cymru ar y llwyfan byd-eang yn gadarnhaol ac adeiladol?
On a broader point, will the Minister now ensure every support for other areas that may represent different, but equally important, aspects of Wales’s traditions, heritage and history, and deserve international recognition so that we work together to ensure that Wales’s image on the world-wide stage is positive and constructive?
I believe that this can now happen. I am not saying that there will be additional world heritage sites elsewhere in Wales. However, it recognises that uniqueness—something that perhaps 10 or 20 years ago was difficult for people to recognise. You can understand why it was difficult when you are close to something that has taken a lot of blood, sweat and tears. Perhaps the leap to seeing this as a cultural element is quite hard to take for a while, but distance of time enables it to happen. We now have a good opportunity, seeing that this is recognised, to see what else we have in Wales. There are many areas. There is a lot of heritage in the Merthyr area, and the local group there has done a tremendous job of preserving buildings and history.
Credaf y gall hyn ddigwydd yn awr. Ni ddywedaf y bydd safleoedd treftadaeth y byd ychwanegol mewn lleoedd eraill yng Nghymru. Fodd bynnag, mae’n cydnabod yr unigrywiaeth honno—rhywbeth a fu’n anodd i bobl ei chydnabod 10 neu 20 mlynedd yn ôl efallai. Gallwch ddeall pam y bu’n anodd pan fyddwch yn agos at rywbeth a gymerodd lawer o waed, chwys a dagrau. Efallai fod y naid i weld hyn yn elfen ddiwylliannol yn eithaf anodd i’w derbyn am dipyn, ond mae pellter amser yn galluogi hynny i ddigwydd. Mae cyfle da gennym yn awr, gan fod hyn wedi’i gydnabod, i weld beth arall sydd gennym yng Nghymru. Mae llawer o ardaloedd. Mae llawer o dreftadaeth yn ardal Merthyr, ac mae’r grŵp lleol yno wedi gwneud gwaith gwych wrth ddiogelu adeiladau a hanes.
On the tourism potential, it is essential that we put this together as a package and develop it so that visitors not only appreciate the excellent and wonderful beauty of Wales’s landscape and coast, but see the other aspect that is there to be interpreted and enjoyed with that boost that it needs. That will be a harmony between what we can do through Cadw and other organisations and also, importantly, the local community. The local communities in Wales need to feel that this is for them too, that it is part of their heritage and that they have a contribution to make.
Ynglŷn â photensial twristiaeth, mae’n hanfodol ein bod yn rhoi hyn at ei gilydd fel pecyn ac yn ei ddatblygu fel bod ymwelwyr nid yn unig yn gwerthfawrogi prydferthwch ardderchog a rhagorol tirwedd ac arfordir Cymru, ond eu bod yn gweld yr agwedd arall sydd yno i’w dehongli a’i mwynhau gyda’r hwb hwnnw sydd ei angen arni. Cytgord fydd hwnnw rhwng yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud drwy Cadw a sefydliadau eraill, ac hefyd drwy’r gymuned leol, sydd yn bwysig. Mae angen i gymunedau lleol Cymru deimlo y gallant gymryd rhan yn hyn hefyd, bod hyn yn rhan o’u treftadaeth a bod ganddynt gyfraniad i’w wneud.
I am grateful to have the opportunity to say something briefly on this special day. There is such magic in the air in Blaenavon today because of this wonderful announcement. I know Blaenavon well, living only two or three miles from there, and I visit it every week. It is next door to my constituency. I am not surprised at the favourable comparison with the Pyramids, as anybody who has walked up the main street in Blaenavon will have made that comparison on many occasions. [Laughter.] It is a town of rich warmth and welcome. That community has worked hard over many years with Big Pit Mining Museum and with the steam railway that they proudly have there.
Yr wyf yn ddiolchgar o gael y cyfle i ddweud rhywbeth byr ar y diwrnod arbennig hwn. Mae cymaint o hud yn awyr Blaenafon heddiw oherwydd y cyhoeddiad rhagorol hwn. Yr wyf yn adnabod Blaenafon yn dda, gan fy mod ond yn byw ddwy neu dair milltir oddi yno, ac ymwelaf â’r dref bob wythnos. Mae’n cyffinio â’m hetholaeth. Ni synnaf at y gymhariaeth ffafriol â’r Pyramidiau, gan y bydd unrhyw un a gerddodd i fyny’r stryd fawr ym Mlaenafon wedi gwneud y gymhariaeth honno lawer gwaith. [Chwerthin.] Mae’n dref o wresogrwydd a chroeso mawr. Gweithiodd y gymuned honno’n galed dros lawer o flynyddoedd gydag Amgueddfa Lofaol y Pwll Mawr a’r rheilffordd ager y maent yn falch o’i chael yno.
Does the Minister, from whom I was delighted to hear this statement, agree that we should congratulate Lynne Neagle, the Member for Torfaen, who has worked so hard on that statement of opinion and has represented and projected so well the case for this wonderful recognition since she has been an Assembly Member? I heard her mention that Cadw will hopefully provide financial support in the future. Will the Minister for Environment ask the Minister for Finance for the financial support that Big Pit needs to make up the shortfall in the important mining museum, which is one of the greatest visitor attractions in Britain and of which we are all proud?
A gytuna’r Gweinidog, yr oedd yn bleser gennyf glywed y datganiad hwn ganddi, y dylem longyfarch Lynne Neagle, yr Aelod dros Dor-faen, a weithiodd mor galed ar y datganiad barn hwnnw ac sydd wedi cynrychioli a chyflwyno’r achos dros y gydnabyddiaeth ragorol hon cystal ers iddi ddod yn Aelod o’r Cynulliad? Clywais hi’n crybwyll y gobaith y darpara Cadw gymorth ariannol yn y dyfodol. A ofynna’r Gweinidog dros yr Amgylchedd i’r Gweinidog dros Gyllid am y cymorth ariannol sydd ei angen ar y Pwll Mawr er mwyn cyflenwi’r diffyg yn yr amgueddfa lofaol bwysig, sydd yn un o’r atyniadau ymwelwyr gorau ym Mhrydain ac yr ydym oll mor falch ohoni?
The comparison with the Pyramids comes to mind when you are there, although the climate is slightly different. This morning, Lynne and I felt the warmth, friendliness and enthusiasm of the local community, which was proud of what it had achieved. We must pay tribute to the people who live in the locality. I also pay tribute to Lynne. It was recognised this morning that you have worked hard and, in a short time you have won the people’s hearts. They know that you have been dedicated in supporting them.
Daw’r gymhariaeth â’r Pyramidiau i’r cof pan fyddwch yno, er bod yr hinsawdd braidd yn wahanol. Y bore yma, teimlodd Lynne a minnau gynhesrwydd, cyfeillgarwch a brwdfrydedd y gymuned leol, a oedd yn falch o’r hyn a gyflawnodd. Rhaid inni dalu teyrnged i’r bobl sydd yn byw yn y gymdogaeth. Talaf deyrnged i Lynne hefyd. Cydnabuwyd y bore yma eich bod wedi gweithio’n galed a’ch bod wedi ennill calonnau’r bobl mewn cyfnod byr. Gwyddant y buoch yn ymroddedig o ran eu cefnogi.
In terms of the financial commitment, the Minister for Finance is not here but I will ask her about financial support. If she did not know that there is a sum attached to good news, she will know it soon after this meeting.
O ran yr ymrwymiad ariannol, nid yw’r Gweinidog dros Gyllid yn bresennol ond gofynnaf iddi am gymorth ariannol. Os na wyddai bod arian ynghlwm wrth newyddion da, bydd yn gwybod hynny’n fuan ar ôl y cyfarfod hwn.
I would like to single out Dennis Puddle, in particular, who has been dedicated to achieving this recognition for many years. It takes a lot of dedication and commitment to see things through. He had a special involvement in Big Pit. He told us that when Big Pit was in operation, seeing it as a UNESCO site was the ultimate goal for pulling the package together. We must ensure that money is available for all elements of the industrial landscape package.
Hoffwn enwi Dennis Puddle, yn benodol, a fu’n ymroddedig i sicrhau’r gydnabyddiaeth hon ers nifer o flynyddoedd. Cymer lawer o ymroddiad ac ymrwymiad i weld pethau i’w terfyn. Cymerodd ran arbennig yn y Pwll Mawr. Dywedodd wrthym pan oedd y Pwll Mawr yn gweithredu, mai ei weld fel un o safleoedd UNESCO oedd y nod wrth ddatblygu’r pecyn. Rhaid inni sicrhau bod arian ar gael ar gyfer pob elfen o’r pecyn tirwedd ddiwydiannol.
On behalf of the Conservative Party I welcome this announcement and I pay tribute to Lynne Neagle. Getting the industrial landscape of Blaenavon recognised on the same level as the Taj Mahal and the Pyramids is a vision that many people would not have had or thought to have been achievable. Not only has Lynne achieved much for her area, but she has shown other backbench Members what we can achieve if we have vision. I have genuine admiration for her for that. I am more than happy to praise Members of other parties when it is called for, just as I did for Jane Davidson earlier this morning.
Croesawaf y cyhoeddiad hwn ar ran y Blaid Geidwadol a thalaf deyrnged i Lynne Neagle. Mae cael yr un gydnabyddiaeth i dirwedd ddiwydiannol Blaenafon â’r Taj Mahal a’r Pyramidiau yn weledigaeth na fyddai llawer o bobl wedi’i chael neu na fyddai llawer o bobl wedi credu y gellid ei chyflawni. Mae Lynne nid yn unig wedi cyflawni llawer ar gyfer ei hardal, ond dangosodd i Aelodau meinciau cefn eraill beth y gallwn ei gyflawni os oes gennym weledigaeth. Fe’i hedmygaf yn wirioneddol am hynny. Yr wyf yn fwy na bodlon canmol Aelodau o bleidiau eraill pan fo’r galw, fel y gwnes i yn gynharach y bore yma ar gyfer Jane Davidson.
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 54
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 54
We would not wish to question that.
Ni ddymunem gwestiynu hynny.
There will be benefits from this accreditation in terms of jobs and tourism and we look forward to that. We hear that the spin-off will reach a wider area. I hope that there will also be a cultural benefit for us. The hardship that people suffered in those areas during the industrial revolution was mentioned. In a calmer and more reflective moment, some people will realise that the relationships between those who worked and managed those areas were more complex than at first thought. Perhaps one of the cultural benefits will be to look more closely at the history of those areas. I look forward to the cultural and economic spin-off of this and I congratulate Lynne Neagle.
Bydd yr achrediad hwn yn dwyn budd o ran swyddi a thwristiaeth ac edrychwn ymlaen at hynny. Clywn y bydd y canlyniadau yn cyrraedd ardal ehangach. Gobeithiaf y bydd budd diwylliannol i ni hefyd. Crybwyllwyd y caledi a ddioddefodd pobl yn yr ardaloedd hynny yn ystod y chwyldro diwydiannol. Ar adeg dawelach a mwy myfyriol, bydd rhai pobl yn sylweddoli bod y cydberthynasau rhwng y bobl a weithiodd ac a reolodd yr ardaloedd hynny yn fwy cymhleth nag y credwyd ar y dechrau. Efallai mai un o’r manteision diwylliannol fydd edrych yn fwy gofalus ar hanes yr ardaloedd hynny. Edrychaf ymlaen at ganlyniadau diwylliannol ac economaidd hyn a llongyfarchaf Lynne Neagle.
David, I see that your new man image is coming forward at last. I am glad to hear you talking about being associated with visions. I appreciate your genuine words and I am sure that Lynne feels the same way. We can come together on occasions such as this to congratulate people and send out warm words on behalf of the Assembly. Party politics does not matter. I spoke warm words on behalf of the Assembly in Blaenavon this morning.
David, gwelaf fod y ddelwedd ohonoch fel dyn newydd yn ymddangos o’r diwedd. Yr wyf yn falch o’ch clywed yn siarad am fod yn gysylltiedig â gweledigaethau. Gwerthfawrogaf eich geiriau dilys ac yr wyf yn siwr bod Lynne yn teimlo’r un peth. Gallwn ddod ynghyd ar achlysuron fel hyn i longyfarch pobl ac i anfon geiriau cynnes ar ran y Cynulliad. Nid oes ots am wleidyddiaeth plaid. Siaradais eiriau cynnes ar ran y Cynulliad ym Mlaenafon y bore yma.
I am glad to be part of this statement and to follow David Davies’s wonderful remarks. On behalf of the Liberal Democrats I congratulate those who have been involved in achieving this recognition: in particular, Torfaen County Borough Council and Lynne Neagle. It has been a pleasure to listen. It provides inspiration to us all to retain and work on our visions for Wales. The importance of this is that it connects people with their past and their heritage. I am sure that everyone here looks forward to visiting the site as it develops. The knock-on effect of today’s announcement will be prosperity.
Yr wyf yn falch o fod yn rhan o’r datganiad hwn ac i ddilyn sylwadau rhagorol David Davies. Ar ran y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol, llongyfarchaf y rheini a fu’n ymwneud ag ennill y gydnabyddiaeth hon: yn enwedig, Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Tor-faen a Lynne Neagle. Bu’n bleser gwrando. Ysbrydola bob un ohonom i gadw ac i ddatblygu ein gweledigaethau ar gyfer Cymru. Pwysigrwydd hyn yw ei fod yn cysylltu pobl â’u gorffennol a’u treftadaeth. Yr wyf yn siwr bod pawb yma yn edrych ymlaen at ymweld â’r safle wrth iddo ddatblygu. Ffyniant fydd effaith ddilynol y cyhoeddiad hwn heddiw.
I hope that that development will continue. I share some of the concerns expressed by speakers that sufficient investment will be forthcoming to ensure that there is an integrated transport system that connects the site. In addition, I share the concerns as to whether there will be sufficient investment for the Big Pit to become part of the National Museums and Galleries of Wales. However, while we all share in the euphoria that the inspiration is now there, I look forward to the day when there is a world heritage site recognising the Welsh agricultural heritage that we are quickly losing. What action is the Minister for Environment taking to ensure that there is sufficient funding so that we can build on this and have a brighter future for tourism and heritage in Wales?
Gobeithiaf y bydd y datblygiad hwnnw yn parhau. Rhannaf rai o’r pryderon a fynegwyd gan siaradwyr na fuddsoddir yn ddigonol er mwyn sicrhau y ceir system drafnidiaeth integredig sydd yn cysylltu’r safle. Yn ogystal, rhannaf y pryderon ynghylch a fuddsoddir yn ddigonol fel y gall y Pwll Mawr ddod yn rhan o Amgueddfeydd ac Orielau Cenedlaethol Cymru. Fodd bynnag, er y rhanna pob un ohonom yr ewfforia bod yr ysbrydoliaeth yno erbyn hyn, edrychaf ymlaen i’r diwrnod pan fydd safle treftadaeth y byd a fydd yn cydnabod y dreftadaeth amaethyddol yng Nghymru yr ydym yn ei cholli’n gyflym. Pa gamau a gymera’r Gweinidog dros yr Amgylchedd er mwyn sicrhau y ceir digon o arian fel y gallwn adeiladau ar hyn a datblygu dyfodol disgleiriach ar gyfer twristiaeth a threftadaeth yng Nghymru?
We have all made the connection that if we are to capitalise on the designation, it needs a well-thought out plan. In fairness, Torfaen have worked hard and I would not like to think that the Assembly is coming in like some shining knight. Torfaen and others have worked hard for many years and it is a tribute to the dedication and imagination of some key people in that Valley.
Mae pob un ohonom wedi deall bod angen cynllun wedi’i drefnu yn dda, os dymunwn fanteisio ar y penodiad. I fod yn deg, gweithiodd Tor-faen yn galed ac ni hoffwn feddwl y daw’r Cynulliad i mewn fel ryw fath o farchog ar geffyl gwyn. Gweithiodd Tor-faen ac eraill yn galed am nifer o flynyddoedd ac mae’n deyrnged i ymroddiad a dychymyg rhai pobl allweddol yn y Cwm hwnnw.
We need to sit down with Torfaen County Borough Council, the community and other partners including Monmouthshire County Council, the County Borough of Blaenau Gwent, the Welsh Development Agency and Mike German as the Minister for Economic Development. We must ensure that we capitalise on the uniqueness of this status and try to turn this into jobs for people. That is important because there are many empty shops in Blaenavon. We must help them to translate this recognition into jobs. Those jobs may be based on heritage and tourism; completely different jobs to the ones that created this landscape. However, they may allow people to stay in their communities.
Mae angen inni drafod gyda Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Tor-faen, y gymuned a phartneriaid eraill gan gynnwys Cyngor Sir Fynwy, Bwrdeistref Sirol Blaenau Gwent, Awdurdod Datblygu Cymru a Mike German fel y Gweinidog dros Ddatblygu Economaidd. Rhaid inni sicrhau ein bod yn manteisio ar unigrywiaeth y statws hwn ac yn ceisio troi hyn yn swyddi i bobl. Mae hynny’n bwysig gan fod llawer o siopau gwag ym Mlaenafon. Rhaid inni eu helpu i drosi’r gydnabyddiaeth hon yn swyddi. Gall y swyddi hynny fod yn seiliedig ar dreftadaeth a thwristiaeth; swyddi hollol wahanol i’r rheini a grëwyd gan y dirwedd hon. Fodd bynnag, gallant o bosibl ganiatáu pobl i aros yn eu cymunedau.
As the shadow Minister, I will respond on behalf of Plaid Cymru—The Party of Wales. We are delighted with this news and many of us were pleased to sign Lynne’s statement a while ago. That was only the tail-end of a long campaign by many people. I echo what has been said about congratulating everybody who made what is a major achievement, not only for Blaenavon and Torfaen, but for Wales. I know that the Minister shares my pleasure in seeing the history of the working people of Wales acknowledged on an international stage.
Fel Gweinidog yr wrthblaid, ymatebaf ar ran Plaid Cymru—The Party of Wales. Yr ydym wrth ein bodd gyda’r newyddion hwn a bu llawer ohonom yn falch iawn i lofnodi datganiad Lynne ychydig o amser yn ôl. Dim ond y rhan olaf o ymgyrch hir gan lawer o bobl oedd hynny. Adleisiaf yr hyn a ddywedwyd am longyfarch pawb a gymerodd ran yn yr hyn sydd yn gyflawniad mawr, nid yn unig i Flaenafon a Thor-faen, ond i Gymru hefyd. Gwn fod y Gweinidog yn rhannu fy mhleser o weld hanes gweithwyr Cymru yn cael ei gydnabod ar lwyfan rhyngwladol.
I declare an interest as an historian. I cannot help saying to David Davies in that context, that the early trade unionists and the chartists of Blaenavon had a clear view about their relationship with their employers. I do not think that they perceived much complexity, with perhaps a few notable exceptions.
Datganaf fuddiant fel hanesydd. Ni allaf beidio â dweud wrth David Davies yn y cyd-destun hwn, bod gan undebwyr llafur cynnar a siartwyr Blaenafon farn glir am eu perthynas â’u cyflogwyr. Ni chredaf y canfuont lawer o gymhlethdod, ar wahân i rai eithriadau nodedig efallai.
As the Minister rightly said, this is a day to celebrate and this recognition is above party politics. However, I echo what has been said about the need to ensure sufficient investment. Wonderful opportunities often come our way as a nation and we are not ready and not there to grasp them. I know that will not be the case this time. Therefore, Sue, will you as a matter of urgency, meet with your colleagues, the Minister for Economic Development and the Minister for Finance to ensure that the Executive is ready to respond to the positive plans of Torfaen County Borough Council and the local partnerships. It would be awful if we, as an Assembly, were perceived to be in any way holding this back. I know that you will do everything to ensure that that is not the case. Therefore, I congratulate everybody in Blaenavon and we as a country can be proud of them.
Fel y dywedodd y Gweinidog yn gywir, mae hwn yn ddiwrnod i ddathlu ac mae’r gydnabyddiaeth hon uwchlaw gwleidyddiaeth plaid. Fodd bynnag, adleisiaf yr hyn a ddywedwyd am yr angen i sicrhau y ceir digon o fuddsoddiad. Daw cyfleoedd ardderchog yn aml inni fel cenedl ac nid ydym yn barod ac nid ydym yno i gydio ynddynt. Gwn na fydd hyn yn wir y tro hwn. Felly, Sue, a fyddech, fel mater o frys, yn cwrdd â’ch cyd-Aelodau, y Gweinidog dros Ddatblygu Economaidd a’r Gweinidog dros Gyllid i sicrhau bod y Weithrediaeth yn barod i ymateb i gynlluniau cadarnhaol Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Tor-faen a’r partneriaethau lleol. Byddai’n ofnadwy pe canfyddid ein bod ni, fel Cynulliad, yn dal hyn yn ôl mewn unrhyw ffordd. Gwn y gwnewch bopeth i sicrhau na ddigwydd hynny. Felly, llongyfarchaf bawb ym Mlaenafon a gallwn ninnau fel gwlad ymfalchïo ynddynt.
I will do that. This cross-cuts many portfolios and needs that cohesiveness. You mentioned reflecting the history of the working people. We cannot underestimate that. Behind the construction of sites such as the Taj Mahal and Stonehenge lie literally blood, sweat and tears. What is remarkable about the Blaenavon landscape and other industrial remains in South Wales and elsewhere is that you can start to feel that element of people’s contribution. If you have been anywhere near blast modern furnaces, you realise the toll that takes on the people who work there. I saw those as a student and I was appalled to think how some people had to spend their working life. You must imagine the impact that had for people who worked there in the past, their health and their families.
Gwnaf hynny. Mae hyn yn ymestyn ar draws llawer o bortffolios ac mae angen yr elfen gydlynol honno. Crybwyllasoch adlewyrchu hanes gweithwyr. Ni allwn fychanu hynny. Y tu ôl i waith adeiladu safleoedd megis y Taj Mahal a Chôr y Cewri mae gwaed, chwys a dagrau yn llythrennol. Yr hyn sydd yn rhyfeddol am dirwedd Blaenafon ac olion diwydiannol eraill yn Ne Cymru ac mewn lleoedd eraill yw y gallwch ddechrau teimlo’r elfen honno o gyfraniad pobl. Os buoch yn agos i ffwrneisiau chwyth modern, sylweddolwch y niwed a wna i’r bobl sydd yn gweithio yno. Gwelais y rheini pan yn fyfyrwraig a chodwyd arswyd arnaf wrth feddwl sut yr oedd yn rhaid i rai pobl dreulio eu bywyd gwaith. Rhaid ichi ddychmygu’r effaith a gafodd hynny ar y bobl a weithiodd yno yn y gorffennol, eu hiechyd a’u teuluoedd.
With a bit of imagination and care, Blaenavon can tell the story of the people as well as convey the wonder of the engineering feats that were achieved there. UNESCO recognises that this is not only about buildings; it is also about the contribution of people to the huge advance that was made at that time. If you do not take steps similar to the ones that have been taken, that part of the history gets lost and people do not appreciate the sacrifices and creativity of the past. That is the exciting element of Blaenavon.
Gydag ychydig o ddychymyg a gofal, gall Blaenafon adrodd hanes y bobl yn ogystal â chyfleu rhyfeddod y campau peirianyddol a gyflawnwyd yno. Mae UNESCO yn cydnabod nad ymwneud ag adeiladau yn unig y mae hyn; mae’n ymwneud â chyfraniad pobl at y datblygiad enfawr a wnaethpwyd ar y pryd. Os na chymerwch gamau tebyg i’r rheini a gymerwyd, collir y rhan honno o’r hanes ac ni werthfawrogir aberth a gallu creadigol y gorffennol. Dyna elfen gyffrous Blaenafon.
I join in today’s celebrations and congratulate Lynne Neagle and the partnership that has achieved this significant recognition. In particular, I pay tribute to councillors Brian Smith and Bob Wellington, who have led by example and have shown great determination and commitment. They would be the first to acknowledge that it has been a team effort, and I am delighted to recognise that today.
Ymunaf â’r dathliadau heddiw a llongyfarchaf Lynne Neagle a’r bartneriaeth a gyflawnodd y gydnabyddiaeth arwyddocaol hon. Talaf deyrnged, yn enwedig, i’r cynghorwyr Brian Smith a Bob Wellington, a arweiniodd drwy osod esiampl ac a ddangosodd benderfyniad ac ymrwymiad mawr. Hwy fyddai’r cyntaf i gydnabod y bu’n waith tîm, ac yr wyf wrth fy modd o gydnabod hynny heddiw.
Phil Williams referred to Alexander Cordell who vividly recalled, in his trilogy of novels, the harshness and difficulties of living and working in those times. I commend to the Assembly the fact that Clwyd Theatr Cymru, as a Welsh national performing arts company, has staged magnificent productions of Rape of the Fair Country, Hosts of Rebecca and Song of the Earth. They are worthy of attendance by Assembly Members and are a good reflection of the work of that company. It is important that we now move to secure the future of Big Pit within the new setting that is a consequence of this morning’s recognition. I am delighted to welcome it and to share in today’s celebrations.
Cyfeiriodd Phil Williams at Alexander Cordell a ddygodd i’r cof yn fyw lymder ac anawsterau byw a gweithio yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw, yn ei gyfres o dair nofel. Tynnaf sylw’r Cynulliad at y ffaith bod Cwmni Theatr Clwyd, fel un o gwmnïau celfyddydau perfformio cenedlaethol Cymru, wedi gosod ar lwyfan gynhyrchiadau rhagorol o Rape of the Fair Country, Hosts of Rebecca a Song of the Earth. Mae’n werth i Aelodau’r Cynulliad fynd i’w gweld ac maent yn adlewyrchu gwaith y cwmni hwnnw yn dda. Mae’n bwysig ein bod yn symud yn awr i ddiogelu dyfodol y Pwll Mawr o fewn y sefyllfa newydd sydd yn ganlyniad o gydnabyddiaeth y bore yma. Mae’n bleser gennyf ei chroesawu ac o fod yn rhan o’r dathliadau heddiw.
I look forward to a bus trip of Assembly Members going to the working men’s hall at Blaenavon to see Clwyd Theatr Cymru’s productions of Alexander Cordell’s work.
Edrychaf ymlaen at Aelodau’r Cynulliad yn mynd ar fws i neuadd y gweithwyr ym Mlaenafon i weld cynhyrchiadau Cwmni Theatr Clwyd o waith Alexander Cordell.
As there is no train.
Gan nad oes trên.
No, there is no train. We will go in a bus. Some of us are used to travelling in buses.
Nag oes, nid oes trên. Awn ar fws. Mae rhai ohonom yn gyfarwydd â theithio ar fws.
I join in the congratulations. I endorse the invitation that has been broadly welcomed here in respect of an important site. We cannot underestimate its significance and uniqueness in industrial terms. I am sure that all Members will now take the opportunity to visit Blaenavon. Those who have visited the site will know that many of the remains of the blast furnaces are extant and that Cadw has already done well in outlining and interpreting the past.
Ymunaf â’r llongyfarchiadau. Ategaf y gwahoddiad a groesawyd yn eang yma o ran safle pwysig. Ni allwn fychanu ei arwyddocâd a’i natur unigryw mewn termau diwydiannol. Yr wyf yn siwr y cymera pob Aelod yn awr y cyfle i ymweld â Blaenafon. Gwyr y rheini a ymwelodd â’r safle fod llawer o olion y ffwrneisiau chwyth yn bodoli a bod Cadw eisoes wedi gwneud yn dda i amlinellu a dehongli’r gorffennol.
I also endorse what Tom Middlehurst said about Big Pit being an important tourist attraction. I welcome the Minister’s commitment that funds will try to be found to ensure that, when large numbers of tourists come to Blaenavon, there will be somewhere for them to stay and understand its significance in UNESCO terms. We must build on the past to ensure the future. Blaenavon is of interest to my family because my great-great-great grandfather provided land and capital at a time of recession in the iron industry. I point out that recession in the iron and steel industry is not only a problem of the present day. I do not want to be controversial, but I hope that the Minister will join with me in sending our congratulations to the Secretary of State for Wales in 1994, John Redwood, for his prescience in commending this site to be listed.
Ategaf hefyd yr hyn a ddywedodd Tom Middlehurst am y Pwll Mawr yn dod yn atyniad pwysig i dwristiaid. Croesawaf ymrwymiad y Gweinidog y bydd yn ceisio cael arian i sicrhau, pan ddaw’r niferoedd mawr o dwristiaid i Flaenafon, y bydd rhywle iddynt aros a deall ei arwyddocâd yn nhermau UNESCO. Rhaid inni adeiladu ar y gorffennol er mwyn diogelu’r dyfodol. Mae Blaenafon o ddiddordeb i’m teulu gan iddo roi tir a chyfalaf i’m hen hen hen dad-cu yn ystod cyfnod o ddirwasgiad yn y diwydiant haearn. Nodaf nad problem gyfoes yn unig yw dirwasgaid yn y diwydiant haearn a dur. Ni ddymunaf fod yn ddadleuol, ond gobeithio y bydd y Gweinidog yn ymuno â mi i longyfarch Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru yn 1994, John Redwood, am ei ragwelediad wrth gymeradwyo’r safle hwn i gael ei restru.
I accept the point about the importance of interpretation and facilities. The blast furnaces and Big Pit have been mentioned. However, one exciting area that has not been mentioned is the landscape behind Blaenavon that extends into the national park. Much of the current excavation work and research is concentrated on this area because it is unique in its own terms. That is another element of the attraction.
Derbyniaf y pwynt am bwysigrwydd dehongli a chyfleusterau. Crybwyllwyd y ffwrneisiau chwyth a’r Pwll Mawr. Fodd bynnag, un ardal gyffrous nas crybwyllwyd yw’r dirwedd y tu ôl i Flaenafon sydd yn ymestyn i’r parc cenedlaethol. Canolbwyntia llawer o’r gwaith cloddio ac ymchwil presennol ar yr ardal hon oherwydd ei natur unigryw. Mae honno yn elfen arall o’r atyniad.
That is probably all I need to say. I do not know about the activities of your great-great-great grandfather, but I am sure that, if he needs to be recognised, he will be. In terms of recognition, we should also note that Ron Davies was the person—I think that is right—that nominated Blaenavon in 1998. If there are a few people on the roll call or other people who need to be mentioned, let us be fair and include them.
Mae’n debyg mai dyna’r cwbl sydd angen imi ei ddweud. Nid wyf yn ymwybodol o weithgareddau eich hen hen hen dad-cu, ond yr wyf yn siwr y caiff ei gydnabod os dylid gwneud hynny. Ynglyn â chydnabod pobl, dylem nodi hefyd mai Ron Davies a oedd y person—credaf fy mod yn gywir—a enwebodd Blaenafon yn 1998. Os oes sawl person ar y rhestr neu bobl eraill y mae angen eu crybwyll, gadewch inni fod yn deg a’u cynnwys.
A few people have bracketed Merthyr and Blaenavon together this morning. I cannot think why it never happens in my house. [Laughter.] However, I hope that the interest of both towns has been pursued with a sense of partnership since the Assembly elections in 1999. It is important for us to recognise and pay tribute to those who have worked so hard to get us to this point today. I know how hard Lynne has worked to make this happen and Torfaen County Borough Council has been visionary in this.
Mae sawl person wedi cysylltu Merthyr a Blaenafon â’i gilydd y bore yma. Ni allaf feddwl pam na ddigwydd hynny byth yn fy nhy i. [Chwerthin.] Fodd bynnag, gobeithiaf fod diddordeb y ddwy dref wedi’i ystyried gydag ymdeimlad o bartneriaeth ers etholiadau’r Cynulliad yn 1999. Mae’n bwysig inni gydnabod a thalu teyrnged i’r rheini a weithiodd mor galed er mwyn i ni gyrraedd y pwynt hwn heddiw. Gwn pa mor galed y gweithiodd Lynne a dangoswyd gweledigaeth Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Tor-faen ynglyn â hyn.
Blaenavon is a monument to labour, toil and solidarity under exploitation. It is also a monument to innovation and wealth creation. The problem is that it reminds us of a time when the creation of wealth was thought to be in opposition to social justice. That legacy remains in industrial south Wales where we are trying to develop a new society where social justice and wealth creation go together. However, Blaenavon is a tiny reminder of the struggles of the past.
Mae Blaenafon yn gofeb i lafur, gwaith caled ac undod o dan ecsbloetiaeth. Mae hefyd yn gofeb i arloesedd a chreu cyfoeth. Y broblem yw ei bod yn ein hatgoffa o gyfnod pan gredwyd bod creu cyfoeth yn groes i gyfiawnder cymdeithasol. Erys yr etifeddiaeth honno yn ne Cymru ddiwydiannol lle ceisiwn ddatblygu cymdeithas newydd lle yr â cyfiawnder cymdeithasol a chreu cyfoeth gyda’i gilydd. Fodd bynnag, mae Blaenafon yn atgof bychan o frwydrau’r gorffennol.
We all had a giggle this morning, when Blaenavon was compared to the Pyramids or the Taj Mahal. It is understandable. However, I hope that today’s announcement will go some way towards changing that perception, because the perception of those outside Wales about towns like Blaenavon is clear. They have given recognition to the town of Blaenavon, because it is as historically important as those great world monuments and more so, I think, because it is primarily a human monument rather than one made of stone or metal. That changing perception is important for us. It must come from within and we must appreciate ourselves today. Let us take a few minutes to appreciate what has happened to lead us to this point in Wales. What lessons can we learn? As Lynne said, above all, we can now build on the future of Blaenavon and the heads of the Valleys area, including Merthyr, so that we can have a better future, which is built on this recognition of a great past.
Bu pob un ohonom yn chwerthin y bore yma, pan gymharwyd Blaenafon â’r Pyramidiau neu’r Taj Mahal. Mae’n ddealladwy. Fodd bynnag, gobeithio yr â y cyhoeddiad heddiw ryw ffordd tuag at newid yr amgyffrediad hwnnw, gan fod amgyffrediad pobl y tu allan i Gymru am drefi fel Blaenafon yn glir. Rhoddasant gydnabyddiaeth i dref Blaenafon, gan ei bod yr un mor bwysig yn hanesyddol â’r henebion byd gwych hynny, a mwy felly, yn fy marn i, gan mai cofeb ddynol ydyw yn bennaf yn hytrach nag un o gerrig neu fetel. Mae’r amgyffrediad hwnnw sydd yn newid yn bwysig inni. Rhaid iddo ddod o’r tu mewn a rhaid inni werthfawrogi ein hunain heddiw. Gadewch i ni dreulio ychydig o funudau yn gwerthfawrogi’r hyn a ddigwyddodd i’n harwain at y pwynt hwn yng Nghymru. Pa wersi y gallwn eu dysgu? Fel y dywedodd Lynne, yn anad dim, gallwn yn awr ddatblygu dyfodol Blaenafon ac ardal blaenau’r Cymoedd, gan gynnwys Merthyr, fel y gallwn gael dyfodol gwell, a gaiff ei adeiladu ar y gydnabyddiaeth hon o orffennol gwych.
Thank you, Huw, for those thoughtful words. Many reflections can be made on this decision. Innovation and the toil that goes with it should not be at the expense of social justice. That is an important lesson. I hope that, in respecting the work that people put in many years ago, we can pay tribute to their memory. That is how we can do it.
Diolch, Huw, am y geiriau ystyriol hynny. Gellir rhoi llawer o sylwadau ar y penderfyniad hwn. Ni ddylai arloesedd a’r gwaith caled sydd ynghlwm ag ef ddigwydd ar draul cyfiawnder cymdeithasol. Mae honno’n wers bwysig. Gobeithio, drwy barchu’r gwaith a wnaethpwyd gan bobl nifer o flynyddoedd yn ôl, y gallwn dalu deyrnged i’w cof. Dyna sut y gallwn ei wneud.
In terms of your perceptions, you are right that UNESCO has not done this as a favour. It is not there because it wanted to do a good turn for Wales. There was a big struggle behind this and it has taken many years. The feeling in many areas of UNESCO is that the western developed world already has many heritage sites and clearly, there are many claims on it now from the less developed areas of the world. It is, therefore, significant that Blaenavon has been given this designation. It is based, as you rightly say, on the evaluation and perception that something special happened there in terms of world development. There are artefacts in the ground, but it needs interpretation to tell the story and to learn lessons from it. It is unique and it could have easily been lost were it not for the determination and imagination of some people. That behoves us well to think about our heritage. Sometimes it is easy to cast it aside and say ‘let us put something up that is shiny and new’. In many cases, there is value in that heritage. As Huw says, in Merthyr, just as much as in Blaenavon, there are some remarkable examples. The two areas are closely linked.
Ynglŷn â’ch amgyffrediadau, yr ydych yn gywir wrth ddweud na wnaeth UNESCO hyn fel ffafr. Nid yw yno am ei fod yn awyddus i wneud tro da â Chymru. Bu brwydr fawr y tu ôl i hyn a chymerodd nifer o flynyddoedd. Y teimlad mewn llawer o ardaloedd UNESCO yw bod llawer o safleoedd treftadaeth eisoes gan y byd datblygedig gorllewinol, ac mae’n amlwg bod llawer o alwadau arno erbyn hyn o ardaloedd llai datblygedig y byd. Felly, mae’n arwyddocaol y rhoddwyd y dyfarniad hwn i Flaenafon. Mae’n seiliedig, fel y dywedwch yn gywir, ar werthusiad ac amgyffrediad y digwyddodd rhywbeth arbennig yno o ran datblygiad y byd. Mae arteffactau yn y tir, ond mae angen eu dehongli er mwyn adrodd yr hanes a dysgu gwersi ohono. Mae’n unigryw a gellid bod wedi ei golli yn hawdd oni bai am benderfyniad a dychymyg rhai pobl. Dylem feddwl am ein treftadaeth. Mae’n hawdd weithiau ei rhoi o’r neilltu gan ddweud ‘gadewch inni adeiladu rhywbeth llachar a newydd’. Mewn llawer o achosion, mae’r dreftadaeth honno yn werthfawr. Fel dywed Huw, ceir cymaint o enghreifftiau anhygoel ym Merthyr, gymaint â’r rhai ym Mlaenafon. Cysylltir y ddwy ardal yn agos.
There are huge reflective messages for us in this as well as it being a day of celebration. Most of all, I sincerely hope that this proves valuable for the people of Blaenavon, because they deserve and need the regeneration that should flow from this announcement.
Daw hyn â negeseuon myfyriol enfawr inni yn ogystal â bod yn ddiwrnod dathlu. Yn anad dim, gobeithio’n fawr fod hyn o werth i bobl Blaenafon, gan eu bod yn haeddu’r gwaith adfywio a ddylai ddigwydd yn sgîl y cyhoeddiad hwn a bod angen y gwaith hwn arnynt.
As a Member from the Valleys, I delight in the success of Blaenavon. However, it is important that we do not simply have success in one area; we need to spread it throughout the Valleys. We have mentioned Merthyr, but we must go further than that. We also need to promote other good schemes in the Valleys. For example, we should have promoted the international centre for skiing in Huw Lewis’s constituency. Such schemes could be included in the promotion, as could the Rhondda Heritage Park. We could all benefit from this important announcement.
Fel Aelod o’r Cymoedd, ymhyfrydaf yn llwyddiant Blaenafon. Fodd bynnag, mae’n bwysig nad ydym ond yn cael llwyddiant mewn un ardal; mae angen inni ei ledaenu drwy’r Cymoedd. Crybwyllasom Ferthyr, ond rhaid inni fynd ymhellach na hynny. Mae angen inni hyrwyddo cynlluniau da eraill yn y Cymoedd hefyd. Er enghraifft, dylem fod wedi hyrwyddo’r ganolfan sgïo ryngwladol yn etholaeth Huw Lewis. Gellid cynnwys cynlluniau o’r fath yn y gwaith hyrwyddo, yn ogystal â Pharc Treftadaeth y Rhondda. Gallai pob un ohonom elwa o’r cyhoeddiad pwysig hwn.
In terms of your transport portfolio, it is important to ensure that there are links between the Valleys. At the moment, the links are between the north and south, but we need links between the east and west so that the Valleys become an integrated whole as opposed to separate communities as they are at present.
O ran eich portffolio trafnidiaeth, mae’n bwysig sicrhau bod cysylltiadau rhwng y Cymoedd. Ar hyn o bryd, ceir cysylltiadau rhwng y gogledd a’r de, ond mae angen cysylltiadau rhwng y dwyrain a’r gorllewin fel y daw’r Cymoedd yn gyfanrwydd integredig yn hytrach na chymunedau ar wahân fel y maent ar hyn o bryd.
For many years, the Wales Tourist Board has talked about marketing the Valleys as one unit. Visitors, of course, see that connection and appreciate it. I am glad that you mentioned the Rhondda Heritage Park, because that is important. That again came about as a result of a leap of faith taken by a few people, who felt that if they did not make a statement the heritage and hard work of the people in the Rhondda might get lost over time.
Mae Bwrdd Croeso Cymru wedi trafod marchnata’r Cymoedd fel un uned ers llawer o flynyddoedd. Mae ymwelwyr yn gweld y cysylltiad hwnnw, wrth gwrs, ac yn ei werthfawrogi. Yr wyf yn falch y crybwyllasoch Barc Treftadaeth y Rhondda, gan fod hynny’n bwysig. Digwyddodd hynny eto o ganlyniad i naid ffydd a gymerwyd gan ychydig o bobl, a oedd o’r farn y câi treftadaeth a gwaith caled pobl y Rhondda ei golli dros amser os na wnaent ddatganiad.
The Valleys have many examples of places that reflect history and people’s dedication. If we can present them in an integrated package, we can provide a story that will enable visitors, in particular, who do not know the background, to get the maximum enjoyment.
Mae llawer o enghreifftiau gan y Cymoedd o leoedd sydd yn adlewyrchu hanes ac ymroddiad pobl. Os gallwn eu cyflwyno yn becyn integredig, gallwn roi stori a fydd yn galluogi ymwelwyr, yn benodol, na wyddant y cefndir, i gael y mwynhad mwyaf.
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 62
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 62
Before we continue, I want to say that this statement took about three-quarters of an hour. Statements should be shorter and Members should ask the Ministers questions in order to hold them to account. Having said that, I realise that this statement was different. It was about an important UNESCO decision. I think that everybody who wished to speak has been able to do so.
Cyn inni barhau, hoffwn ddweud bod y datganiad hwn wedi cymryd tua thri chwarter awr. Dylai datganiadau fod yn fyrrach a dylai’r Aelodau ofyn cwestiynau i’r Gweinidogion er mwyn eu gwneud yn atebol. Wedi dweud hynny, sylweddolaf fod y datganiad hwn yn wahanol. Yr oedd yn ymwneud â phenderfyniad pwysig gan UNESCO. Credaf y siaradodd pawb a ddymunodd wneud hynny.
Strategaeth i Hybu Iechyd a Lles: Parhad o’r Ddadl
Strategy to Promote Health and Wellbeing: Continuation of the Debate
I welcome this morning’s debate. The Minister for Health and Social Services is on her feet far too often discussing issues relating to those who deliver a service to people who are already ill. That is backed up by the fact that the vast majority of resources in the NHS budget go towards treating people who are already ill. It adds weight to the cliché that we do not have a national health service in Wales, but a national illness service.
Croesawaf y ddadl y bore yma. Mae’r Gweinidog dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol ar ei thraed yn rhy aml yn trafod materion sydd yn ymwneud â’r rheini sydd yn darparu gwasanaeth i bobl sydd eisoes yn sâl. Ategir hynny gan y ffaith bod y mwyafrif helaeth o adnoddau yng nghyllideb yr NHS yn mynd tuag at drin pobl sydd eisoes yn sâl. Mae’n pwysleisio’r ystrydeb nad oes gennym wasanaeth iechyd gwladol yng Nghymru, ond gwasanaeth salwch gwladol.
The Liberal Democrats welcome the emphasis on prevention being better than cure. We are delighted that the partnership agreement shows a commitment to delivering on this. Jane has answered questions this morning on the provision of breakfast clubs and fruit tuck shops. We also plan to reintroduce free school milk for pupils under the age of seven. There is also a need to look at prescription charges, freezing and abolishing them for certain groups. There is evidence that many people do not seek initial help for ailments because they cannot afford to pay £6 for a prescription.
Croesawa’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol y pwyslais ar atal yn hytrach na gwella. Yr ydym yn falch bod y cytundeb partneriaeth yn dangos ymrwymiad i gyflwyno ar hyn. Mae Jane wedi ateb cwestiynau y bore yma ar ddarparu clybiau brecwast a siopau ffrwythau bach mewn ysgolion. Bwriadwn hefyd ailgyflwyno llaeth ysgol am ddim i ddisgyblion o dan saith oed. Mae angen edrych hefyd ar daliadau presgripsiwn, eu rhewi a’u diddymu ar gyfer grwpiau penodol. Mae tystiolaeth nad yw llawer o bobl yn gofyn am gymorth cychwynnol ar gyfer afiechydon gan na allant fforddio talu £6 am bresgripsiwn.
The Health and Social Services Committee has carried out much work on the issue of eye examinations. I hope that the innovative eye care scheme on which officials have been working will soon be in place and will provide greater opportunities for people to have preventative eye screening examinations.
Mae’r Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol wedi cyflawni llawer o waith ar fater archwiliadau llygaid. Gobeithiaf y bydd y cynllun gofal llygaid arloesol, y bu swyddogion yn gweithio arno, yn weithredol cyn bo hir ac yn darparu mwy o gyfleoedd i bobl gael archwiliadau sgrinio llygaid ataliol.
The second general Welsh health survey showed that a vast majority of the population do not visit the dentist regularly, and a quarter of those who were asked why they did not go for an annual check-up cited cost and affordability as the main reason. Therefore, the provision in the partnership agreement to extend free dental services is also welcomed
Dangosodd yr ail arolwg iechyd cyffredinol yng Nghymru nad yw mwyafrif helaeth y boblogaeth yn ymweld â’r deintydd yn rheolaidd, a dywedodd chwarter o’r rheini y gofynnwyd iddynt pam nad oeddent yn mynd am archwiliad blynyddol mai’r prif reswm am hyn oedd cost yr archwiliad ac a oeddent yn gallu ei fforddio. Felly, croesewir y ddarpariaeth yn y cytundeb partneriaeth i ymestyn gwasanaethau deintyddol am ddim hefyd.
I will mention two aspects of the strategy, in particular, I welcome the section on older people. Age Concern and Help the Aged have done much work in health promotion for older people who often get left out and drop off the end of the scale. Too often, health promotion is seen in terms of preventing young people and people in middle age from acquiring bad habits. I particularly welcome the commitment to carry out a review of the effects of loneliness and isolation. This is a problem wherever older people live, and it is particularly acute in rural areas. While canvassing, I came across an elderly lady who, since the death of her husband three years ago, had never left her home, and her only contact with people was with one set of neighbours who did her shopping. It is little surprise, with such high levels of isolation for older people in our communities, that 44 per cent of people in Wales who suffer from mental illness are over the age of 65. I welcome, therefore, the emphasis on health solutions for older people and on considering the needs of carers, because many of them are older people caring for a partner.
Soniaf am ddwy agwedd ar y strategaeth. Yn arbennig, croesawaf yr adran ar bobl hyn. Mae Age Concern a Help the Aged wedi gwneud llawer o waith o ran hybu iechyd i bobl hyn a esgeulusir yn aml ac nad ydynt yn rhan o’r darlun cyffredinol o gwbl. Yn amlach na pheidio, ystyrir hybu iechyd yn nhermau atal pobl ifanc a phobl canol oed rhag meithrin arferion gwael. Croesawaf yn arbennig yr ymrwymiad i gynnal adolygiad o effeithiau unigrwydd ac arwahanrwydd. Mae hon yn broblem lle bynnag y mae pobl hyn yn byw, ac mae’n arbennig o wael mewn ardaloedd gwledig. Wrth ganfasio, deuthum ar draws gwraig oedrannus nad oedd, ers marwolaeth ei gwr dair blynedd yn ôl, erioed wedi gadael ei chartref, a’u hunig gyswllt â phobl oedd â chymdogion a oedd yn siopa iddi. Nid yw’n syndod felly, gyda lefelau mor uchel o arwahanrwydd ar gyfer pobl hyn yn ein cymunedau, bod 44 y cant o bobl yng Nghymru sydd yn dioddef o salwch meddwl dros 65 mlwydd oed. Felly, croesawaf y pwyslais ar atebion iechyd i bobl hyn ac ar ystyried anghenion cynhalwyr, gan fod llawer ohonynt yn bobl hyn sydd yn gofalu am bartner.
I also particularly welcome the emphasis on health information. The strategy acknowledges that there are huge deficits in health information provision. It is not always accessible, nor does it always meet the individual needs of certain sectors of society. For example, literature does not always take into account the needs of younger people or black and ethnic minority people and the needs of the Welsh-speaking population of Wales—people who have Welsh as their first language who are, in many cases, unable to access health information in their first language. I welcome the acknowledgement of these problems and the moves to improve the access to health information for older people.
Croesawaf yn arbennig hefyd y pwyslais ar wybodaeth iechyd. Mae’r strategaeth yn cydnabod bod diffygion mawr o ran darpariaeth yr wybodaeth iechyd. Nid yw bob amser yn hygyrch, ac nid yw bob amser yn diwallu anghenion unigol sectorau penodol o gymdeithas. Er enghraifft, nid yw llenyddiaeth bob amser yn ystyried anghenion pobl iau neu bobl ddu a lleiafrifol ethnig ac anghenion y bobl sydd yn siarad Cymraeg yng Nghymru—pobl sydd yn siarad Cymraeg fel eu hiaith gyntaf na allant, mewn llawer o achosion, gael gafael ar yr wybodaeth iechyd yn eu hiaith gyntaf. Croesawaf y ffaith y cydnabyddir y problemau hyn a’r camau sydd yn cael eu cymryd i wella hawl pobl hyn i wybodaeth am iechyd.
I welcome also the amendments put forward by Jocelyn and David that draw attention to the fact that health and health promotion are not only the job of the Health and Social Services Committee, and that they cannot be imposed on a reluctant population. As David said, individuals have their part to play. Improving health is the job of all Assembly Subject Committees, not just the one I chair, and the job of our partners. The correlation between poverty and ill-health cannot be challenged. Our lower levels of economic activity are reflected in our lower levels of health. Our poor housing stock and homelessness figures also have a direct correlation with the health of our citizens. Individuals need to make their own contribution and should be given the tools to do that. It is easy for us to lecture about the needs of a healthy diet, but when you are on limited income or do not have access to a retailing outlet with a good supply of fresh food or, as David mentioned, do not know what to do with it, then you cannot make those differences. Your comments, David, particularly struck home with me. I come from a generation of people who were not taught to cook at school. I am still at a loss as to what to do with a marrow or an aubergine, but I am a terror with frozen pizzas.
Croesawaf hefyd y gwelliannau a gyflwynwyd gan Jocelyn a David a dynnodd sylw at y ffaith mai nid gwaith y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gwasanaethau yn unig yw iechyd a hybu iechyd, ac ni ellir eu gorfodi ar boblogaeth amharod. Fel y dywedodd David, mae gan unigolion eu rhan i’w chwarae. Gwella iechyd yw gwaith pob un o Bwyllgorau Pwnc y Cynulliad, nid dim ond yr un a gadeiriaf i, a gwaith ein partneriaid. Ni ellir herio’r gyd-berthynas rhwng tlodi ac afiechyd. Adlewyrchir ein lefelau is o weithgaredd economaidd yn ein lefelau iechyd is. Mae cyd-berthynas hefyd rhwng ein stoc tai a’n ffigurau digartrefedd gwael a iechyd ein dinasyddion. Mae angen i unigolion wneud eu cyfraniad eu hunain a dylid rhoi’r offer iddynt wneud hynny. Mae’n hawdd inni bregethu am anghenion deiet iach, ond pan fydd gennych incwm cyfyngedig neu os nad oes siop o fewn eich cyrraedd sydd â chyflenwad da o fwyd ffres neu, fel y soniodd Dave, os na wyddoch beth i’w wneud ag ef, yna ni allwch wneud y gwahanaiethau hynny. Gwnaeth eich sylwadau, David, daro’r nod. Dof o genhedlaeth o bobl na chawsant eu dysgu i goginio yn yr ysgol. Ni wn beth i’w wneud gyda phwmpen neu blanhigyn wy, ond yr wyf yn hen law ar goginio pizzas wedi eu rhewi.
I turn to the piousness of certain Assembly Members on smoking. Alun Pugh has left the Chamber. It is easy for people like Alun who, I suppose, has never let a cigarette pass his lips, but as an ex-smoker I can tell you how difficult it is to give up and to tackle the problems that underlie the reasons why you smoked in the first place. Smoking is often a crutch for other problems that people have, and it is not just a question of tackling the problems of giving up the addiction, but also the underlying causes of why people want to smoke in the first place, whether there are issues of confidence or stress. We must tackle the problem in different ways.
Trof at dduwioldeb rhai Aelodau o’r Cynulliad ar ysmygu. Mae Alun Pugh wedi gadael y Siambr. Mae’n hawdd i bobl fel Alun, nad yw, fe dybiaf, erioed wedi rhoi sigarét yn ei geg ond fel cyn ysmygwr gallaf ddweud wrthych pa mor anodd yw rhoi’r gorau iddo a mynd i’r afael â’r problemau sydd yn sail i’r rhesymau pam yr oeddech yn ysmygu yn y lle cyntaf. Mae ysmygu yn aml yn fagl ar gyfer problemau eraill sydd gan bobl, ac nid cwestiwn o fynd i’r afael â phroblemau rhoi’r gorau i’r caethineb yn unig ydyw, ond mynd i’r afael hefyd â’r rhesymau sylfaenol dros ysmygu yn y lle cyntaf, ac a yw hyder neu straen yn arwain at ysmygu. Rhaid inni fynd i’r afael â’r broblem mewn ffyrdd gwahanol.
Would you, therefore, condemn some of the UK’s personalities, such as the Spice Girls, who smoke to reduce their weight?
Felly, a fyddech yn condemnio rhai o enwogion y DU, fel y Spice Girls, sydd yn ysmygu i golli pwysau?
Absolutely. As someone whose prime motivation for starting to smoke was the myth that smoking keeps you thin, I agree with you. We must dispel these myths because young women form the fastest growing sector of smokers. We have been successful in reducing the numbers in other groups of smokers, or in helping them to give up. Young women are particularly vulnerable because of media and peer pressure, and because of the myth that, if you smoke, you can eat as much as you like without gaining weight.
Yn sicr. Fel rhywun a gafodd ei hysgogi i ddechrau ysmygu oherwydd y myth bod ysmygu yn eich cadw’n denau, cytunaf â chi. Rhaid inni gael gwared ar y mythau hyn gan mai merched ifanc yw’r grwp o ysmygwyr sydd yn cynyddu gyflymaf. Buom yn llwyddiannus wrth ostwng y niferoedd mewn grwpiau eraill o ysmygwyr, neu wrth eu helpu i roi’r gorau iddo. Mae merched ifanc yn arbennig o ddiamddiffyn oherwydd pwysau’r cyfryngau a phwysau cyfoedion, ac oherwydd y myth, os ydych yn ysmygu, y gallwch fwyta cymaint ag y dymunwch heb fagu pwysau.
Do you have any advice for politicians who admit to drinking 14 pints a day in their youth?
A oes gennych unrhyw gyngor i wleidyddion sydd yn cyfaddef eu bod wedi yfed 14 peint y dydd yn ystod eu hieuenctid?
All I can say to that, Ron, is that it must be a stressful job believing that ragtag bunch called the Conservative Party. [CONSERVATIVE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS: ‘Oh.’]
Y cyfan y gallaf ei ddweud ar y mater hwnnw Ron yw, mae’n rhaid bod y gwaith o gredu’r gwehilion a elwir y Blaid Geidwadol yn achosi llawer o straen. [AELODAU CEIDWADOL O’R CYNULLIAD: ‘O.’]
With regard to exercise, we all know what we should do, but are guilty of not doing as much as we could. That can be due to poor provision of physical education at school, which does not instil in people the desire to participate in sport.
O ran ymarfer, gwyr pob un ohonom beth y dylem fod yn ei wneud, ond yr ydym yn euog o beidio â gwneud cymaint ag y gallem. Gall hynny fod o ganlyniad i ddarpariaeth wael o ran addysg gorfforol yn yr ysgol, nad yw’n meithrin pobl i gymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon.
Do you share the concern, therefore, about the number of school playing fields that are being sold? What is the partnership council doing to stop this shameful sell-off of the nation’s sporting facilities?
A ydych yn rhannu’r pryder, felly, ynglyn â nifer y meysydd chwarae mewn ysgolion sydd yn cael eu gwerthu? Beth mae’r cyngor partneriaeth yn ei wneud i atal cyfleusterau chwaraeon y genedl rhag cael eu gwerthu mewn modd cywilyddus?
You have pre-empted my next comment about school playing grounds. However, the problem in Wales has not been as acute as it was in England. As I understand, the worst level of school playing field sell-off was during the period of the last Government, David. I welcome, therefore, your conversion to the issue and thank you for that statement. I am aware that I have run out of time, therefore I conclude with that point.
Dyna’r union sylw yr oeddwn ar fin ei wneud am feysydd chwarae mewn ysgolion. Fodd bynnag, ni fu’r broblem yng Nghymru mor wael ag y bu yn Lloegr. Fel y deallaf, bu’r lefel uchaf o werthu meysydd chwarae mewn ysgolion yn ystod cyfnod y Llywodraeth ddiwethaf, David. Felly, croesawaf y ffaith eich bod wedi troi at y mater hwn a diolchaf ichi am y datganiad hwnnw. Yr wyf yn ymwybodol bod fy amser wedi dod i ben, felly dof i ben gyda’r pwynt hwnnw.
I had not realised that I was supposed to speak on this.
Nid oeddwn wedi sylweddoli bod disgwyl imi siarad ar y mater hwn.
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 67
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 67
You sent me an e-mail message asking to contribute.
Anfonasoch neges e-bost ataf yn gofyn am gael cyfrannu.
I have mentioned school playing fields many times. We have experienced problems in receiving information from answers to oral and written questions on this subject. We are always informed that information is not collated centrally. The National Playing Fields Association told me, informally—although the statistics to prove this are not available—that the number of playing fields in Wales being sold-off has increased during the past few years.
Yr wyf wedi sôn sawl gwaith am feysydd chwarae mewn ysgolion. Cawsom broblemau wrth gael gwybodaeth o atebion i gwestiynau llafar ac ysgrifenedig ar y pwnc hwn. Dywedir wrthym bob amser na choladir yr wybodaeth yn ganolog. Dywedodd y Gymdeithas Meysydd Chwarae Genedlaethol wrthyf, yn anffurfiol—er nad yw’r ystadegau ar gael i brofi hyn—fod nifer y meysydd chwarae yng Nghymru a werthir wedi cynyddu yn ystod yr ychydig flynyddoedd diwethaf.
With regard to Kirsty’s point about smoking, I was also a smoker, and used to do so at school. The opportunity to take part in exercise during the lunch hour was, oddly enough, one of the things that stopped me smoking. The availability of playing fields is, therefore, important. I accept that they were sold off under the previous Government, which was a mistake, but it should now stop. We should ensure the availability of statistics showing how many are under threat, so that we can put a halt to it.
Ynglŷn â phwynt Kirsty am ysmygu, bûm innau yn ysmygwr hefyd, ac arferwn wneud hynny yn yr ysgol. Y cyfle i gymryd rhan mewn ymarfer corff yn ystod yr awr ginio, yn ddigon rhyfedd, oedd un o’r pethau a wnaeth imi roi’r gorau i ysmygu. Felly mae argaeledd meysydd chwarae, yn bwysig. Derbyniaf y cawsant eu gwerthu o dan y Llywodraeth flaenorol, a oedd yn gamgymeriad, ond dylai ddod i ben yn awr. Dylem sicrhau fod ystadegau ar gael sydd yn dangos faint ohonynt sydd o dan fygythiad, fel y gallwn atal hyn.
I welcome this debate and the lead taken by the Assembly in the promotion of health and wellbeing. We have made a commitment to the best principles of joined-up working, in partnership, to achieve the best results. I am pleased that we are starting to move away from the idea of health establishments, which encouraged the ‘we know best’ mentality. As highlighted in ‘Betterwales.com’, the reduction of health inequalities is one of our key strategic themes. We are beginning to effect change in this area. As ‘Betterwales.com’ points out, the challenges are great, because census information shows that a much higher proportion of our people report a limiting long-term illness, compared with the UK average.
Croesawaf y ddadl hon a’r arweiniad a gymerwyd gan y Cynulliad wrth hybu iechyd a lles. Ymrwymasom i egwyddorion gorau cydweithio, mewn partneriaeth, i gyflawni’r canlyniadau gorau. Yr wyf yn falch ein bod wedi dechrau symud i ffwrdd o’r syniad o sefydliadau iechyd, a anogodd y meddylfryd ‘ni a wyr orau’. Fel yr amlygwyd yn ‘Gwellcymru.com’, lleihau anghydraddoldebau iechyd yw un o’n themâu strategol allweddol. Yr ydym yn dechrau achosi newid yn y maes hwn. Fel y noda ‘Gwellcymru.com’, mae’r heriau yn enfawr, oherwydd dengys gwybodaeth y cyfrifiad fod cyfran uwch o lawer o’n pobl wedi eu cofnodi fel rhai sydd â salwch tymor hir, o’i gymharu â chyfartaledd y DU.
The task before us is great. It must be approached head on, and we have shown that we are beginning to tackle the work. However, bearing in mind that results will take a generation to take effect, it is important that we begin now. Good things are already happening.
Mae’r dasg ger ein bron yn fawr. Rhaid ymdrin â’r dasg ar ei phen, ac yr ydym wedi dangos ein bod yn dechrau mynd i’r afael â’r gwaith. Fodd bynnag, o gofio y cymer y canlyniadau genhedlaeth i weithio, mae’n bwysig ein bod yn dechrau yn awr. Mae pethau da eisoes yn digwydd.
As members of the South East Wales Regional Committee will be told at its meeting tomorrow, the health improvement programme, which identifies the key priorities for the residents of the area covered by Bro Taf Health Authority, and the recent budget announcement means that the authority will have more money to tackle these issues. We should celebrate that.
Fel y dywedir wrth aelodau o Bwyllgor Rhanbarth y De-ddwyrain yn ei gyfarfod yfory, golyga’r rhaglen gwella iechyd, sydd yn nodi’r blaenoriaethau allweddol ar gyfer trigolion yr ardal a gwmpesir gan Awdurdod Iechyd Bro Taf, a’r cyhoeddiad diweddar am y gyllideb y bydd gan yr awdurdod ragor o arian i fynd i’r afael â’r materion hyn. Dylem ddathlu hynny.
All these priorities are aimed at reducing inequality between areas and within communities. This will result in easier access to a range of high quality services and support for individuals and communities in less advantaged areas.
Mae gan bob un o’r blaenoriaethau hyn y bwriad clir o leihau anghydraddoldeb rhwng ardaloedd ac o fewn cymunedau. Bydd hyn yn arwain at fanteisio’n haws ar ystod o wasanaethau o ansawdd uchel a chymorth i unigolion a chymunedau mewn ardaloedd llai breintiedig.
Locally, I can already see excellent examples of good work stemming from the Assembly’s lead. In the Cynon Valley, the local health group, under the chairmanship of Dr Chris Jones, is undertaking excellent work. A recent series of public meetings has resulted in the development of a business case for a new neighbourhood hospital and two primary care centres. The community has been fully involved in this, which did not happen prior to establishing the Assembly. We also have a scheme to attract new general practitioners to the valley. I have mentioned many times in the Chamber our difficulties in doing that because of the Cynon Valley’s high rates of deprivation. We must focus on all these good developments.
Yn lleol, gallaf eisoes weld enghreifftiau rhagorol o waith da yn deillio o arweiniad y Cynulliad. Yng Nghwm Cynon, gwna’r grwp iechyd lleol, o dan gadeiryddiaeth Dr Chris Jones, waith rhagorol. Arweiniodd cyfres ddiweddar o gyfarfodydd cyhoeddus at ddatblygu achos busnes ar gyfer ysbyty cymdogaeth newydd a dwy ganolfan gofal sylfaenol. Mae’r gymuned wedi chwarae rhan lawn yn hyn, rhywbeth na ddigwyddai cyn sefydlu’r Cynulliad. Mae gennym gynllun hefyd i ddenu meddygon teulu newydd i’r cwm. Soniais lawer gwaith yn y Siambr am ein hanawsterau wrth wneud hyn oherwydd cyfraddau amddifadedd uchel Cwm Cynon. Rhaid inni ganolbwyntio ar bob un o’r datblygiadau da hynny.
There are many challenges. As Kirsty has discussed the elderly population, I will focus on young people. Young people do not always take kindly to good advice. I agree with Kirsty that us pontificating here will not make a difference. Good health is not always on young people’s minds when they consider themselves fit and healthy. It is clear that any strategy must take this on board and be as innovative as possible. Joined-up working is essential.
Mae sawl her. Gan fod Kirsty wedi trafod y boblogaeth oedrannus, canolbwyntiaf ar bobl ifanc. Nid yw pobl ifanc bob tro yn croesawu cyngor da. Cytunaf â Kirsty na fydd doethinebu ar ein rhan ni yma yn gwneud gwahaniaeth. Nid yw iechyd da bob amser ar feddwl pobl ifanc pan ystyriant eu bod yn ffit ac yn iach. Mae’n amlwg bod yn rhaid i unrhyw strategaeth ystyried hyn a bod mor arloesol â phosibl. Mae cydweithio yn hanfodol.
I welcome the fact that David mentioned the high rate of teenage pregnancies. Wales has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancies in western Europe, which is a poverty-related issue. However, it also relates to the low aspirations of girls. It is not always easy to talk about that, as there is currently a focus on the underachievement of boys. I do not want to underestimate that. However, we must still acknowledge the difficulty of the low aspirations of girls, as there is a correlation between that and the high rate of teenage pregnancies. We must treat them both together in order to be effective.
Croesawaf y ffaith fod David wedi sôn am y gyfradd uchel o ferched yn eu harddegau sydd yn beichiogi. Mae gan Gymru un o’r cyfraddau uchaf o feichiogrwydd ymhlith merched yn eu harddegau yng ngorllewin Ewrop. Mae hwn yn fater sydd yn gysylltiedig â thlodi. Fodd bynnag, mae hefyd yn ymwneud â dyheadau isel merched. Nid yw bob amser yn hawdd siarad am hynny, gan fod y canolbwynt ar hyn o bryd ar fechgyn yn tangyflawni. Nid wyf am danbrisio hynny. Fodd bynnag, rhaid inni gydnabod o hyd yr anhawster ynghylch dyheadau isel merched, gan fod cydberthynas rhwng hynny â’r gyfradd uchel o ferched yn eu harddegau sydd yn beichiogi. Rhaid inni eu trin gyda’i gilydd er mwyn bod yn effeithiol.
We know that there is a correlation between a lack of female GPs and high rates of teenage pregnancies. Clinicians must take that into account when taking on new partners. There is also potential for much more collaborative work among teachers, youth workers, nurses, doctors and others, who can come up with solutions together. No one group has all the answers.
Gwyddom fod cydberthynas rhwng prinder meddygon teulu benywaidd a’r gyfradd uchel o ferched yn eu harddegau sydd yn beichiogi. Rhaid i glinigwyr ystyried hynny wrth benodi partneriaid newydd. Mae potensial hefyd am fwy o gydweithio ymhlith athrawon, gweithwyr ieuenctid, nyrsys, meddygon ac eraill, a all feddwl am atebion gyda’i gilydd. Nid oes gan un grwp yr atebion i gyd.
There is also a suggestion that, if girls are encouraged much more to participate in sport and build their self-confidence, it may have a knock-on effect on the high rates of teenage pregnancy. There is a clear role for the Sports Council for Wales, with which I have had many discussions on this. I am delighted that it is now committed to a strategy to lessen the large gap between the sport participation rates of men and women in Wales. There has been an appalling gap over the years. This is another example of joined-up thinking and working in action.
Mae awgrym hefyd, os anogir merched i gymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon a chynyddu eu hunan hyder, y caiff effaith gynyddol efallai ar gyfraddau uchel beichiogrwydd ymhlith merched yn eu harddegau. Mae rôl glir ar gyfer Cyngor Chwaraeon Cymru, ac yr wyf wedi cael llawer o drafodaethau â hwy ynglyn â hyn. Yr wyf wrth fy modd ei fod bellach yn ymrwymedig i strategaeth i leihau’r bwlch mawr yn y cyfraddau cymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon rhwng dynion a merched yng Nghymru. Bu bwlch arswydus dros y blynyddoedd. Mae hon yn enghraifft arall o gydfeddwl a chydweithredu.
Do you agree that, not only are there variations between men and women with regard to participation in sport, but that there is also a large gap in the participation of women from ethnic minorities in Wales?
A gytunwch nid yn unig fod amrywiadau rhwng dynion a merched o ran cymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon, ond bod bwlch mawr hefyd yn nifer y merched o leiafrifoedd ethnig yng Nghymru?
I agree. Bodies that are responsible to the Assembly must do much more innovative work to tackle these problems, as we have only paid lip service to it in the past.
Cytunaf. Rhaid i gyrff sydd yn atebol i’r Cynulliad wneud llawer mwy o waith arloesol i fynd i’r afael â’r problemau hyn, gan mai dim ond cefnogaeth mewn enw a fu ar ein rhan yn y gorffennol.
We should not be afraid to consider how other countries solve some of these problems. Holland’s teenage pregnancy rates are much lower, partly because its sex education lessons are more effective. The idea of relationships, not only the mechanics of sex, is discussed much more openly. There seems to be much more equality between girls and boys in the classroom. Students are encouraged to treat each other as equals, not just as sexual partners.
Ni ddylai fod arnom ofn ystyried sut y mae gwledydd eraill yn datrys rhai o’r problemau hyn. Mae cyfraddau beichiogrwydd ymhlith merched yn eu harddegau yn yr Iseldiroedd yn llawer is, yn rhannol gan bod ei gwersi addysg rhyw yn fwy effeithiol. Trafodir y syniad o berthynas, nid cyfathrach rywiol yn unig, yn llawer mwy agored. Ymddengys fod llawer o mwy o gydraddoldeb rhwng merched a bechgyn yn yr ystafell ddosbarth. Anogir myfyrwyr i drin ei gilydd yn gyfartal, nid fel partneriaid rhywiol yn unig.
We can do much more in Wales to improve the situation. All the ideas that I have discussed require agencies to work together. That is where the crucial element of our plans will succeed or fail.
Gallwn wneud llawer mwy yng Nghymru i wella’r sefyllfa. Mae’r holl syniadau a drafodais yn galw ar asiantaethau i weithio gyda’i gilydd. Dyna lle y bydd elfen holl bwysig ein cynlluniau yn llwyddo neu’n methu.
I declare an interest as a pharmacist and a member of Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council. If we are to promote health and wellbeing effectively, we must have long-term, practical and adequately resourced action programmes. If we could cure the sick with reports and strategies, Wales would not have a problem. There has been a plethora of reports and strategies. We need adequately funded action to address our communities’ appalling health statistics.
Datganaf fuddiant fel fferyllydd ac fel aelod o Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Rhondda Cynon Taf. Os ydym i hybu iechyd a lles yn effeithiol, rhaid inni gael rhaglenni gweithredu tymor hir, ymarferol gydag adnoddau digonol. Pe gallem wella cleifion gydag adroddiadau a strategaethau, ni fyddai gan Gymru broblem. Bu gormodedd o adroddiadau a strategaethau. Mae angen cymryd camau wedi’u hariannu’n ddigonol i ymdrin ag ystadegau iechyd gwarthus ein cymunedau.
The announcement yesterday that Bro Taf Health Authority has approved Pontypridd and Rhondda NHS Trust’s outline business case for a replacement hospital for Llwynypia will assist health promotion in the Rhondda. We have been waiting for more than 20 years for this facility and have received enough consultation documents to paper the Assembly’s walls. I welcome this move as it includes positive proposals to promote the health and wellbeing of Rhondda citizens. For example, there will be facilities to improve the working between the hospital service and social services, as Dai Lloyd mentioned. It is important to work with a hospital service that provides primary care. There will be facilities for working together in primary care, which is a new initiative. These facilities are important in addressing the health divide.
Bydd y cyhoeddiad ddoe bod Awdurdod Iechyd Bro Taf wedi cymeradwyo achos busnes Ymddiriedolaeth NHS Pontypridd a Rhondda am ysbyty newydd ar gyfer Llwynypia yn helpu i hybu iechyd yn y Rhondda. Buom yn aros am fwy nag 20 mlynedd am y cyfleuster hwn a chawsom ddigon o ddogfennau ymgynghori i bapuro waliau’r Cynulliad. Croesawaf y cam hwn gan ei fod yn cynnwys cynigion cadarnhaol i hybu iechyd a lles dinasyddion y Rhondda. Er enghraifft, bydd cyfleusterau i wella’r cydweithio rhwng gwasanaeth yr ysbyty a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, fel y soniodd Dai Lloyd. Mae’n bwysig gweithio gyda gwasanaeth ysbyty sydd yn darparu gofal sylfaenol. Bydd cyfleusterau ar gyfer cydweithio mewn gofal sylfaenol, sydd yn fenter newydd. Mae’r cyfleusterau hyn yn bwysig wrth ymdrin â’r bwlch ym maes iechyd.
However, I am concerned about proposals to reduce the number of beds in this facility from 134 to 108, especially in light of the bed crisis that we have experienced in the past. We have been promised an increase in beds, not a reduction. The role of the casualty department appears to have been downgraded, as it has been termed a minor injuries unit. In the past, ambulances responding to 999 calls have taken patients to Llwynypia by way of a triage system whereby suitable patients were treated locally rather than having to be taken to the district general hospital. This has now ceased, which causes a problem. If facilities are not used, they will wither on the vine eventually. There is also great uncertainty about the future of pathology and radiotherapy facilities at this hospital. Services are being centralised to the district general hospital.
Fodd bynnag, pryderaf am y cynigion i ostwng nifer y gwelyau yn y cyfleuster hwn o 134 i 108, yn arbennig yng ngoleuni’r argyfwng gwelyau a brofasom yn y gorffennol. Addawyd cynnydd mewn gwelyau inni, nid gostyngiad. Ymddengys fod rôl yr adran damweiniau ac achosion brys wedi ei hisraddio, gan ei bod wedi cael ei galw’n uned mân anafiadau. Yn y gorffennol, mae ambiwlansys sydd yn ymateb i alwadau 999 wedi mynd â chleifion i Lwynypia drwy gyfrwng system flaenoriaethu lle yr ymdriniwyd â chleifion addas yn lleol yn hytrach na mynd â hwy i’r ysbyty cyffredinol dosbarth. Mae hyn bellach wedi dod i ben, sydd yn achosi problem. Os na ddefnyddir y cyfleusterau, byddant yn diflannu yn y pen draw. Mae ansicrwydd mawr hefyd ynghylch dyfodol cyfleusterau patholeg a radiotherapi yn yr ysbyty hwn. Caiff y gwasanaethau eu canoli i’r ysbyty cyffredinol dosbarth.
The report does not mention telemedicine, which is a crucial and novel way of providing high-standard health services in communities. The private finance initiative is a big problem about which I am concerned. It is expensive in the long term and divides staff. The delay in implementing this scheme is also of great concern because we have been waiting over 20 years, as I said.
Nid yw’r adroddiad yn sôn am delefeddygaeth, sydd yn ffordd holl bwysig a newydd o ddarparu gwasanaethau iechyd o safon uchel mewn cymunedau. Mae’r fenter cyllid preifat yn broblem fawr y pryderaf amdani. Mae’n gostus yn y tymor hir ac yn rhannu staff. Mae’r oedi wrth weithredu’r cynllun hwn yn achosi pryder mawr hefyd gan y buom yn aros mwy nag 20 mlynedd fel y soniais.
When Jane Hutt has time to consider this new business plan, I ask her to give permission to Pontypridd and Rhondda NHS Trust to buy the site of the old Brambers factory. It is the ideal and only site available for such a facility in the Rhondda. By giving this permission, she will give a tremendous boost to the project and will prove that it will go ahead. We have been promised much in the past. Having that facility would do more than anything to promote health and wellbeing in the Rhondda Valley.
Pan fydd gan Jane Hutt amser i ystyried y cynllun busnes newydd hwn, gofynnaf iddi roi caniatâd i Ymddiriedolaeth NHS Pontypridd a’r Rhondda i brynu safle hen ffatri Brambers. Hwn yw’r unig safle sydd ar gael ar gyfer cyfleuster o’r fath yn y Rhondda ac mae’n ddelfrydol. Drwy roi caniatâd, bydd yn rhoi hwb aruthrol i’r prosiect ac yn profi yr â yn ei flaen. Cawsom lawer o addewidion yn y gorffennol. Byddai cael y cyfleuster hwnnw yn gwneud mwy nag unrhyw beth i hybu iechyd a lles yng Nghwm Rhondda.
I declare an interest as a school governor in Albert Road Primary School in Penarth. On the statement in the strategy that
Datganaf fuddiant fel llywodraethwr ysgol yn Ysgol Gynradd Heol Albert ym Mhenarth. Ynghylch y datganiad yn y strategaeth bod
‘good health is important for children at home and in school.’
‘iechyd da yn bwysig i blant yn y cartref a’r ysgol’.
I was impressed to hear during a governors’ meeting last night that Albert Road Primary School provides a fruit tuck shop at break time. It is heartening that so many young children eat apples, bananas and oranges. However, there is a cost attached to that in terms of staff time. Teaching and non-teaching staff ensure that the fruit is prepared properly, eaten safely, and that hands are washed afterwards and fruit skins disposed of. I pay tribute to all the staff that provide that service, because it goes beyond what is required in their job description. They do it to benefit the children in their care. The headteacher of Meadowlane School, Mr Tobutt, in St Mellons, for instance, provides fruit and toast for many of his pupils who turn up in the morning without having eaten. Otherwise, they would have a poor start to their school day.
Yn ystod cyfarfod o’r llywodraethwyr neithiwr yr oeddwn yn falch o glywed fod Ysgol Gynradd Heol Albert yn darparu siop ffrwythau yn ystod amser chwarae. Mae’n galonogol bod cymaint o blant ifanc yn bwyta afalau, bananas ac orennau. Fodd bynnag, mae cost ynghlwm wrth hynny o ran amser staff. Mae staff addysgu a rhai nad ydynt yn addysgu yn sicrhau y caiff y ffrwythau eu paratoi’n gywir, eu bwyta’n ddiogel, a bod eu dwylo yn cael eu golchi ar ôl bwyta ac y gwaredir croen y ffrwythau. Talaf deyrnged i bob aelod o’r staff sydd yn darparu’r gwasanaeth hwnnw, gan ei fod yn mynd y tu hwnt i’r hyn sydd yn ofynnol yn eu disgrifiad swydd. Gwnânt hyn er budd y plant yn eu gofal. Mae pennaeth Ysgol Meadowlane, Mr Tobutt, yn Llaneirwg, er enghraifft, yn darparu ffrwythau a thost i lawer o’i ddisgyblion sydd yn cyrraedd yr ysgol yn y bore heb fwyta. Fel arall, byddent yn cael dechrau gwael i’w diwrnod ysgol.
In connection with that, I welcome the launch of the Sure Start programme in my constituency in St Mellons, Grangetown and Butetown. I was privileged to attend the launch in St Mellons and it was wonderful to watch these small children eat—some for the first time, I suspect—all sorts of fruit and vegetables, including celery and peppers, that had been prepared by the health visitors and advisers. The different fruits and vegetables had been prepared in a colourful and attractive way, in bite-sized pieces, and their bright colours caught the eye.
Mewn cysylltiad â hynny, croesawaf lansiad y rhaglen Cychwyn Cadarn yn fy etholaeth yn Llaneirwg, Grangetown a Butetown. Yr oedd yn fraint mynychu’r lansiad yn Llaneirwg ac yn wych gweld y plant bach hyn yn bwyta—rhai am y tro cyntaf, fe dybiaf—bob math o ffrwythau a llysiau, gan gynnwys helogan a phuprau, a baratowyd gan yr ymwelwyr iechyd a’r cynghorwyr. Paratowyd y ffrwythau a’r llysiau gwahanol mewn ffordd liwgar a deniadol, mewn darnau bach, ac yr oedd eu lliwiau llachar yn dal y llygad.
The parents at the launch were also enthusiastic. It was clear that they were there to learn how to encourage their children to eat healthier food. It is important that we constantly encourage parents to do that, and send them that message, perhaps even before they become parents. Kirsty mentioned that it is not merely a matter of being able to buy healthy food, but of what you do with it when you have bought it. I have mentioned two schools located at either end of my constituency, but there are many others, in all our constituencies, that do a great deal to promote healthy eating.
Yr oedd y rhieni yn y lansiad yn frwdfrydig hefyd. Yr oedd yn amlwg eu bod yno i ddysgu sut i annog eu plant i fwyta bwyd iachach. Mae’n bwysig ein bod yn annog rhieni yn gyson i wneud hynny, ac yn anfon y neges honno atynt, efallai cyn iddynt ddod yn rhieni hyd yn oed. Soniodd Kirsty nad mater o allu prynu bwyd iach yn unig yw hyn, ond yr hyn a wnewch gydag ef ar ôl ichi ei brynu. Soniais am ddwy ysgol sydd wedi eu lleoli ym mhob pen o’m hetholaeth, ond mae llawer o rai eraill, ym mhob un o’n hetholaethau, sydd yn gwneud llawer iawn i hybu bwyta’n iach.
I also welcome the commitment in the strategy to involve town and community councils in a meaningful way. In my constituency, Penarth Town Council and Llandough Community Council will work enthusiastically with the Assembly to do all that they can to improve the health and wellbeing of their communities.
Croesawaf hefyd yr ymrwymiad yn y strategaeth i gynnwys cynghorau tref a chymuned mewn ffordd ystyrlon. Yn fy etholaeth i, bydd Cyngor Tref Penarth a Chyngor Cymuned Llandochau yn gweithio’n frwdfrydig gyda’r Cynulliad i wneud popeth o fewn eu gallu i wella iechyd a lles eu cymunedau.
I was pleased to hear David Melding and Dai Lloyd place importance on statistics that identify deprivation. Everyone acknowledges that poor health is connected to poverty and poor housing. I am sorry to have to introduce a sour note here, but I call on Conservative and Plaid Cymru Assembly Members to condemn the Conservative councillors in the Vale of Glamorgan Council, who, supported by Plaid Cymru councillors, will this evening try to overturn the recommendation of the Local Government Boundary Commission to split the Alexandra ward in Penarth into two separate wards, Plymouth and St Augustine’s, to bring the wards into line with the town council ward boundaries.
Yr oeddwn yn falch o glywed David Melding a Dai Lloyd yn rhoi pwys ar ystadegau sydd yn nodi amddifadedd. Mae pawb yn cydnabod bod iechyd gwael yn gysylltiedig â thlodi a thai gwael. Mae’n ddrwg gennyf am gyflwyno nodyn sur yma, ond galwaf ar Aelodau o’r blaid Geidwadol a Phlaid Cymru yn y Cynulliad i gondemnio’r cynghorwyr Ceidwadol yng Nghyngor Bro Morgannwg, a fydd, gyda chefnogaeth cynghorwyr Plaid Cymru, yn ceisio gwyrdroi argymhelliad y Comisiwn Ffiniau Llywodraeth Leol heno i rannu ward Alexandra ym Mhenarth yn ddwy ward ar wahân, Plymouth a St Augustine, i gysoni’r wardiau â ffiniau ward cyngor y dref.
You may ask what this has to do with health and wellbeing. [CONSERVATIVE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS: ‘Yes.’] I will tell you. The Assembly increasingly uses various deprivation indices to identify the areas of greatest need. We have all discussed collating data on a level lower than that of the unitary authorities in order to better identify need. The St Augustine’s part of the Alexandra ward has, for many years, been unfairly assessed socio-economically because the real picture has been blurred by the more affluent Plymouth part of the ward. It is a gerrymandered ward. It has five elected members—Ron Davies knows all about this, and was supportive of the Local Government Boundary Commission’s recommendation. St Augustine’s is the old docks end of the town, where I have lived for 30 years. In order to enable us to identify the needs of those living in that area and to obtain proper and accurate data, I urge the Conservatives on the Vale of Glamorgan Council to stop trying to desperately hold on to one more seat.
Efallai y gofynnwch beth sydd a wnelo hyn â iechyd a lles. [AELODAU CEIDWADOL O’R CYNULLIAD: ‘Ie.’] Fe ddywedaf wrthych. Mae’r Cynulliad yn gynyddol yn defnyddio mynegeion amddifadedd amrywiol i nodi’r ardaloedd â’r angen mwyaf. Mae pob un ohonom wedi trafod coladu data ar lefel is na’r awdurdodau unedol er mwyn nodi angen yn well. Cafodd rhan St Augustine yn ward Alexandra, ers llawer o flynyddoedd, ei hasesu’n annheg yn gymdeithasol economaidd gan fod y darlun gwirioneddol wedi ei bylu gan ran fwy cefnog Plymouth y ward. Mae’n ward a gyffin-dwyllwyd. Mae ganddi bum aelod etholedig—gwyr Ron Davies bopeth am hyn, a bu’n gefnogol o argymhelliad y Comisiwn Ffiniau Llywodraeth Leol. Mae St Augustine yn y rhan o’r dref lle yr oedd yr hen ddociau, a lle y bûm yn byw am 30 mlynedd. Er mwyn ein galluogi i nodi anghenion y rheini sydd yn byw yn yr ardal honno a chael data priodol a chywir, anogaf y Ceidwadwyr ar Gyngor Bro Morgannwg i roi’r gorau i geisio dal ymlaen yn ffyrnig i un sedd ychwanegol.
David Davies a gododd—
David Davies rose—
I will not give way.
Ni wnaf ildio.
Point of order. Will you rule, Deputy Presiding Officer, on how this concerns health, particularly given our limited time to discuss this issue?
Pwynt o drefn. A wnewch chi ddyfarnu, Ddirprwy Lywydd, beth sydd a wnelo hyn â iechyd, yn arbennig o gofio’r amser cyfyngedig sydd gennym i drafod y mater hwn?
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 74
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 74
I thank you for your help, David. I was listening carefully, and while Lorraine was straying towards the margins of the subject, I have not heard anything so far that could be classed as being out of order. However, I ask Lorraine to return to the substance of the debate.
Diolch ichi am eich help, David. Yr oeddwn yn gwrando’n astud, ac er bod Lorraine yn crwydro tuag at ymylon y pwnc, ni chlywais unrhyw beth eto y gellid ei ystyried allan o drefn. Fodd bynnag, gofynnaf i Lorraine ddychwelyd at sylwedd y ddadl.
I will just finish my last point. The people of the St Augustine’s area, particularly the children, deserve the best chance possible to access funds to improve their health and wellbeing. It is all down to getting the right data to take this strategy forward so that it and all the money that it will involve is targeted at those in greatest need.
Gorffennaf fy mhwynt olaf. Mae pobl ardal St Augustine, yn arbennig y plant, yn haeddu’r cyfle gorau posibl i gael yr hawl i arian er mwyn gwella eu hiechyd a’u lles. Mae’n dibynnu ar gael y data cywir i ddatblygu’r strategaeth hon fel y bydd y data a’r holl arian a fydd yn gysylltiedig â hyn wedi eu targedu at y rheini sydd â’r angen mwyaf.
The foundation of any health improvement plan should be people’s eating habits. It is a concern that health is worse in economically deprived areas with high unemployment and high rates of economic inactivity. However, it is ironic that the eating habits of many people in those areas are not what we would like, in terms of the consumption of fresh fruit, vegetables and produce. It is especially ironic given that fresh food is often cheaper than ready-made meals. Education has a part to play in changing eating habits, as the document recognises, but cultural change is a long-term aim. In terms of the role that education can play, David Melding has reliably informed me that cookery classes are now called home economics classes. I confess that I opted to take cookery rather than metalwork when I was at school. I trust that my wife is not listening to this, otherwise I will be in front of the stove this evening. My point is that cookery programmes are popular on television and chefs are fashionable. Jamie Oliver is an obvious example of a chef who can use fresh produce in imaginative ways that appeal to people in all sectors of society. However, we must target those who eat ready-made meals, who tend to be—and this may be a generalisation—from economically deprived areas.
Dylai arferion bwyta pobl fod yn sail i unrhyw gynllun gwella iechyd. Mae’n bryder bod iechyd yn waeth mewn ardaloedd economaidd-ddifreintiedig gyda diweithdra uchel a chyfraddau uchel o anweithgarwch economaidd. Fodd bynnag, mae’n eironig nad yw arferion bwyta llawer o bobl yn yr ardaloedd hynny yr hyn yr hoffem iddynt fod, o ran bwyta ffrwythau, llysiau a chynnyrch ffres. Mae’n arbennig o eironig o gofio bod bwyd ffres yn aml yn rhatach na phrydau parod. Mae gan addysg ran i’w chwarae wrth newid arferion bwyta fel y cydnebydd y ddogfen, ond mae newid diwylliannol yn amcan tymor hir. Yn nhermau’r rôl y gall addysg ei chwarae, mae David Melding wedi fy hysbysu’n sicr y gelwir dosbarthiadau coginio bellach yn ddosbarthiadau economeg y cartref. Cyffesaf fy mod wedi dewis coginio yn hytrach na gwaith metel pan oeddwn yn yr ysgol. Hyderaf nad yw fy ngwraig yn gwrando ar hyn, neu byddaf o flaen y popty heno. Y pwynt yr wyf am ei wneud yw bod rhaglenni coginio’n boblogaidd ar y teledu a chogyddion yn ffasiynol. Mae Jamie Oliver yn enghraifft amlwg o gogydd sydd yn gallu defnyddio cynnyrch ffres mewn ffyrdd creadigol sydd yn apelio at bobl ym mhob sector o gymdeithas. Fodd bynnag, rhaid inni dargedu’r rheini sydd yn bwyta prydau parod, sydd yn tueddu i ddod—a chyffredinoli yw hyn efallai—o ardaloedd economaidd-ddifreintiedig.
I make a brief representation on prostate cancer screening. Large sums of money are spent on well women clinics, and rightly so. However, I recently asked the Minister for Health and Social Services in Plenary what plans she had to introduce prostate screening for men in a similar way to the cancer screening initiatives for women. Unfortunately, we did not get to the bottom of that. I ask the Minister to return to that issue because large sums of money are spent on well women clinics. That is right, but we should also consider how we can improve the condition of men, particularly as the incidence of prostate cancer is rising so dramatically.
Gwnaf sylw byr ar sgrinio ar gyfer canser y brostad. Caiff symiau mawr o arian eu gwario ar glinigau’r ferch iach, ac mae hynny’n iawn. Fodd bynnag, yn ddiweddar gofynnais i’r Gweinidog dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol mewn Cyfarfod Llawn pa gynlluniau a oedd ganddi i gyflwyno sgrinio prostrad i ddynion mewn ffordd debyg i’r mentrau sgrinio canser i ferched. Yn anffodus, ni thrafodwyd hynny’n fanwl. Gofynnaf i’r Gweinidog ddychwelyd at y mater hwnnw gan fod symiau mawr o arian yn cael eu gwario ar glinigau’r ferch iach. Mae hynny’n iawn, ond dylem ystyried hefyd sut y gallwn wella’r afiechyd ymhlith dynion, yn arbennig gan fod y nifer sydd yn dioddef o ganser y brostrad yn cynyddu mor ddramatig.
I thank Jane for bringing this strategy before the Assembly today. Health promotion is a key part of our wider health agenda and it is right that it is given priority in a Plenary debate. I have argued in Committee that promoting health and wellbeing by changing lifestyles is an element in tackling health inequality. However, long-term strategies for promoting healthier living are redundant in the communities that I represent if they are not backed by quality, universal services for those suffering ill-health now. There is an inverse care law that means that those with the worst health are often those with the lowest level of health care. I am sure that the allocation of record levels of resources to the NHS and the creation of the health inequality fund will help to address this. I look forward to the results of the NHS allocations formula review in the hope that that will lead to a robust formula that gives resources to the areas of greatest need. We must tackle health inequality and ill-health in our poorest communities through this strategy.
Diolchaf i Jane am gyflwyno’r strategaeth ger bron y Cynulliad heddiw. Mae hybu iechyd yn rhan allweddol o’n hagenda iechyd ehangach ac mae’n iawn rhoi’r flaenoriaeth iddo mewn dadl mewn Cyfarfod Llawn. Yr wyf wedi dadlau yn y Pwyllgor fod hybu iechyd a lles drwy newid ffordd o fyw yn elfen wrth fynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldeb iechyd. Fodd bynnag, mae strategaethau tymor hir ar gyfer hybu byw yn fwy iach yn ddiddefnydd yn y cymunedau a gynrychiolaf os na chânt eu hategu gan wasanaethau cyffredinol o ansawdd i’r rheini sydd yn dioddef o salwch ar hyn o bryd. Ceir deddf gofal wrthdro a olyga mai’r rheini â’r iechyd gwaethaf yn aml yw’r rheini sydd â’r lefel isaf o ofal iechyd. Yr wyf yn siwr y bydd dyrannu adnoddau i’r NHS, ar y lefel fwyaf erioed, a chreu cronfa anghydraddoldeb iechyd yn helpu i ymdrin â hyn. Edrychaf ymlaen at ganlyniadau’r adolygiad o fformwla dyraniadau’r NHS yn y gobaith y bydd yn arwain at fformwla gadarn sydd yn rhoi adnoddau i’r ardaloedd â’r angen mwyaf. Rhaid inni fynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldeb iechyd a salwch yn ein cymunedau tlotaf drwy gyfrwng y strategaeth hon.
In focusing on health inequalities, we need to take the multi-agency approach highlighted in the strategy. However, we must bite the bullet in another respect and target our efforts and resources on the areas of greatest need. A universal, ‘please-all’ approach is not the answer to promoting health and wellbeing when those with the worst health are to be found in identifiable communities that need the greatest investment. Our first priority should be to tackle ill-health where it is greatest. That must mean targeting our resources and our efforts on the most deprived communities, often in the south Wales valleys, as well as supporting other communities that were ranked highest on the index of multiple deprivation. We must do this because it is in these communities that the rates of teenage pregnancies are highest, economic inactivity due to ill-health is highest and life expectancy is much lower than the average for Wales. That is the ultimate form of social exclusion. In Torfaen, and in other south Wales valleys, the rate of mortality due to circulatory disease and the rate of infant mortality are among the highest, and we have one of the highest levels of limiting long-term illness.
Wrth ganolbwyntio ar anghydraddoldebau iechyd, mae angen inni fabwysiadu’r ymagwedd aml-asiantaeth a amlygir yn y strategaeth. Fodd bynnag, rhaid inni ddal yn ôl mewn ystyr arall a thargedu ein hymdrechion a’n hadnoddau ar yr ardaloedd sydd â’r angen mwyaf. Nid ymagwedd gyffredinol, ‘plesio pawb’ yw’r ateb i hybu iechyd a lles pan welir bod y rheini sydd â’r iechyd gwaethaf mewn cymunedau a adnabyddir y mae angen y buddsoddiad mwyaf arnynt. Ein blaenoriaeth gyntaf fydd mynd i’r afael â salwch yn y mannau lle y mae ar ei waethaf. Rhaid i hynny olygu targedu ein hadnoddau a’n hymdrechion ar y cymunedau mwyaf difreintiedig, yn aml yng nghymoedd de Cymru, yn ogystal â chefnogi cymunedau eraill a osodwyd uchaf ar y mynegai amddifadedd lluosog. Rhaid inni wneud hyn gan mai yn y cymunedau hynny y mae’r gyfradd uchaf o ferched sydd yn beichiogi yn eu harddegau, y gyfradd uchaf o anweithgarwch economaidd oherwydd salwch a lle mae disgwyliad einioes yn llawer is na’r cyfartaledd ar gyfer Cymru. Dyna’r ffurf waethaf ar allgáu cymdeithasol. Yn Nhor-faen, ac mewn cymoedd eraill yn ne Cymru, mae’r gyfradd farwolaeth o ganlyniad i afiechyd cylchrediad y gwaed a’r gyfradd farwolaeth mewn babanod ymhlith yr uchaf, ac mae gennym un o’r lefelau uchaf o salwch tymor hir cyfyngol.
The UK Government and the Government of Wales are making progress in tackling these problems, but we still face chronic ill-health. We are well-placed to deal with these issues, and we must recognise where we can tie this strategy into our work on Communities First and Objective 1. It is essential that Communities First is tied into the health promotion and improvement agenda and that we avoid the temptation succumbed to in past public policy to compartmentalise health and segregate it from issues such as housing, the environment, employment and community regeneration.
Mae Llywodraeth y DU a Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud cynnydd wrth fynd i’r afael â’r problemau hyn, ond wynebwn afiechyd cronig o hyd. Yr ydym mewn sefyllfa dda i ddelio â’r materion hyn, a rhaid inni gydnabod lle y gallwn gysylltu’r strategaeth hon â’n gwaith ar Roi Cymunedau’n Gyntaf ac Amcan 1. Mae’n hanfodol bod Rhoi Cymunedau’n Gyntaf wedi ei gysylltu â’r agenda hybu a gwella iechyd a’n bod yn osgoi’r temtasiwn yr ildiwyd iddo mewn polisi cyhoeddus yn y gorffennol i adrannu iechyd a’i wahanu oddi wrth faterion fel tai, yr amgylchedd, cyflogaeth ac adfywio cymunedau.
Therefore, while welcoming the publication of this strategy and the work outlined in it, I argue that two factors must still be considered. First, we must ensure a focus on the delivery of quality health services in our deprived communities, to deliver the health improvements needed now, as well as setting long-term targets. Secondly, to have a genuine impact on the scale of the problems we face, we need to target our efforts and resources on the areas of greatest need.
Felly, tra’n croesawu cyhoeddi’r strategaeth hon a’r gwaith a amlinellir ynddi, dadleuaf fod yn rhaid ystyried y ddau ffactor o hyd. Yn gyntaf, rhaid inni sicrhau ein bod yn canolbwyntio ar gyflwyno gwasanaethau iechyd o ansawdd yn ein cymunedau difreintiedig, cyflwyno’r gwelliannau iechyd sydd eu hangen yn awr, yn ogystal â phennu targedau tymor hir. Yn ail, er mwyn cael effaith go iawn ar raddfa’r problemau a wynebwn, rhaid inni dargedu ein hymdrechion a’n hadnoddau ar yr ardaloedd â’r angen mwyaf.
I declare an interest as the husband of a community midwife.
Datganaf fuddiant fel gwr bydwraig gymunedol.
As a new member of the Health and Social Services Committee, my interest in health has increased further. The health of my family, my constituents and the people of Wales is important to me.
Fel aelod newydd o’r Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, mae fy niddordeb mewn iechyd wedi cynyddu ragor. Mae iechyd fy nheulu, fy etholwyr a phobl Cymru yn bwysig imi.
Midwifery is important and is, naturally, my first subject. In their work with mothers and babies—fathers are not forgotten—midwives promote and advise on health, growth, nutrition, breastfeeding and birth control. Midwives are often forgotten in our health service, but they are an essential part of it, because they help to support the mother and baby for nine or 10 months. We must continue to support them because they ensure that new babies are given a healthy start in life.
Mae bydwreigiaeth yn bwysig ac, yn naturiol, dyma fy mhwnc cyntaf. Yn eu gwaith gyda mamau a babanod—nid anghofir am y tadau—mae bydwragedd yn hybu ac yn rhoi cyngor ar iechyd, tyfiant, maeth, bwydo o’r fron a dulliau atal cenhedlu. Yn aml anghofir am fydwragedd yn ein gwasanaeth iechyd, ond maent yn rhan hanfodol ohono, gan eu bod yn ceisio helpu i gefnogi’r fam a’r babi am naw neu 10 mis. Rhaid inni barhau i’w cefnogi oherwydd sicrhant y caiff babanod newydd ddechrau iach mewn bywyd.
I now move on to an issue that has always been of concern to me. Some 25 to 30 years ago, doctors were imported into this country because there were not enough of them in the Valleys. Those doctors are now beginning to retire and we are faced with the same problem. We have, perhaps, not learnt anything during those years. We have not trained enough doctors, nurses, health visitors and, of course, midwives. These are important professionals whom we need to support and care for our health and wellbeing in the future.
Symudaf ymlaen at fater a fu o bryder imi erioed. Tua 25 i 30 mlynedd yn ôl, mewnforiwyd meddygon i’r wlad hon gan nad oedd digon ohonynt yn y Cymoedd. Bellach mae’r meddygon hynny’n dechrau ymddeol a wynebwn yr un broblem. Ni ddysgasom, efallai, unrhyw beth yn ystod y blynyddoedd hynny. Nid ydym wedi hyfforddi digon o feddygon, nyrsys, ymwelwyr iechyd, ac wrth gwrs, bydwragedd. Mae’r rhain yn bobl broffesiynol y mae angen inni roi cymorth a gofal iddynt er mwyn ein hiechyd a’n lles yn y dyfodol.
I will move on quickly to mental health strategies, as I am aware of the lack of time. One in six adults suffer from mental health problems, ranging from depression to schizophrenia. I attended a presentation by Mencap this week, where I learnt about the voluntary help available to those who care for people with mental health problems and physical disabilities. We must remember that those sufferers are human beings. That comes before the fact that they have a health problem or disability. I learnt that respite care is important to carers and benefits patients and families. Unfortunately, there is a waiting list of many weeks, even months, in some cases. Older carers, caring for ageing sons and daughters are concerned about what will happen to their children when they become too old to care for them. We should recognise that problem. Young carers are amazing; I do not know how they do it. They care for their ill parents and yet still manage to continue with their lives and education. ‘Amazing’ is the only word that I can use to describe them.
Symudaf ymlaen yn gyflym yn awr at strategaethau iechyd meddwl, gan fy mod yn ymwybodol bod amser yn brin. Mae un o bob chwe oedolyn yn dioddef o broblemau iechyd meddwl, yn amrywio o iselder ysbryd i sgitsoffrenia. Mynychais gyflwyniad gan Mencap yr wythnos hon, lle y dysgais am y cymorth gwirfoddol sydd ar gael i’r rheini sydd yn gofalu am bobl â phroblemau iechyd meddwl ac anableddau corfforol. Rhaid inni gofio mai bodau dynol yw’r dioddefwyr hynny. Daw hynny o flaen y ffaith bod ganddynt broblem iechyd neu anabledd. Dysgais fod gofal ysbaid yn bwysig i gynhalwyr ac yn fuddiol i gleifion a’u teuluoedd. Yn anffodus, mae rhestr aros o sawl wythnos, fisoedd hyd yn oed, mewn rhai achosion. Mae cynhalwyr hyn, sydd yn gofalu am feibion a merched sydd yn heneiddio, yn pryderu ynghylch yr hyn a fydd yn digwydd i’w plant pan fyddant yn rhy hen i ofalu amdanynt. Dylem gydnabod y broblem honno. Mae cynhalwyr ifanc yn rhyfeddol; ni wn sut y gwnânt y gwaith. Gofalant am eu rhieni sydd yn sâl ac eto llwyddant i barhau â’u bywydau a’u haddysg. ‘Rhyfeddol’ yw’r unig air y gallaf ei ddefnyddio i’w disgrifio.
I draw Members’ attention to a scheme in Blackwood in my constituency, called Crossroads. This organisation provides care for carers. It is a group where people look after each other so that they can continue their voluntary caring work. I am also concerned about the future of people who have been institutionalised for a long time due to their physical and mental disabilities. I am concerned that Llanfrechfa Grange Hospital in the greater Gwent area has moved people into the community. There should be support for them in the community. I am also concerned that some, due to severe disabilities, have been moved to the edge of the hospital grounds, neither in the hospital nor in the community. How will these people be supported? I am worried, as are their parents, that care will not be available to them.
Tynnaf sylw’r Aelodau at gynllun yn y Coed Duon yn fy etholaeth, o’r enw Crossroads. Mae’r sefydliad hwn yn darparu gofal i gynhalwyr. Mae’n grwp lle mae pobl yn gofalu am ei gilydd fel y gallant barhau â’u gwaith gofal gwirfoddol. Yr wyf hefyd yn pryderu am ddyfodol pobl a fu mewn cartrefi am amser hir oherwydd eu hanableddau corfforol a meddyliol. Yr wyf yn pryderu bod Ysbyty Llanfrechfa Grange yn ardal Gwent wedi symud pobl i mewn i’r gymuned. Dylai fod cefnogaeth ar gael iddynt yn y gymuned. Yr wyf hefyd yn pryderu bod rhai, oherwydd anableddau difrifol, wedi cael eu symud i gyrion tir yr ysbyty, ac felly nid ydynt yn yr ysbyty nac yn y gymuned. Sut y cefnogir y bobl hynny? Yr wyf yn pryderu, fel y mae eu rhieni, na fydd y gofal hwnnw ar gael iddynt.
When resources are scarce there is often a tendency for mental health services to provide a ‘psychosis only’ service and concentrate on treatment rather than on prevention. We should develop and train counsellors and psychotherapists, who must be involved in primary care. Their role must be expanded. In my constituency there is a service linked with a split GP practice, which is progressing well. In nearby Ystrad Mynach the system is regarded so highly that the local health group is concerned that, because everybody wants to use the service, costs will increase and, as a result, no-one will benefit.
Pan fydd adnoddau yn brin mae tueddiad yn aml i wasanaethau iechyd meddwl ddarparu gwasanaeth ‘seicosis yn unig’ a chanolbwyntio ar driniaeth yn hytrach nag ar atal yr afiechyd. Dylem ddatblygu a hyfforddi cynghorwyr a seicotherapyddion, y mae’n rhaid eu cynnwys mewn gofal sylfaenol. Rhaid ymestyn eu rôl. Yn fy etholaeth i mae gwasanaeth sydd yn gysylltiedig â phractis meddygon teulu rhanedig, sydd yn datblygu’n dda. Yn Ystrad Mynach gerllaw ceir ystyriaeth mor uchel o’r system fel bod y grwp iechyd lleol yn gofidio, gan fod pawb am ddefnyddio’r gwasanaeth, y bydd costau yn cynyddu ac, o ganlyniad, ni fydd neb yn elwa arno.
I move on to health and wellbeing in school education. Other Members have talked about the importance of developing young people’s awareness of nutrition, sexual health, and the dangers of drug and substance misuse. Physical education should be encouraged and not squeezed out of the curriculum. As a result of my interest in athletics, I have learned that osteoporosis in women is becoming, not a disease of the middle aged, but of those in their 20s. Two things can help prevent osteoporosis, which is a reduction in bone density: that is, exercise and milk for pubescent children. We should look to promoting that.
Symudaf ymlaen at iechyd a lles mewn addysg ysgol. Soniodd Aelodau eraill am bwysigrwydd datblygu ymwybyddiaeth pobl ifanc o faeth, iechyd rhywiol, a pheryglon camddefnyddio cyffuriau a sylweddau. Dylid annog addysg gorfforol ac ni ddylid ei wthio allan o’r cwricwlwm. O ganlyniad i’m diddordeb mewn athletau, yr wyf wedi dysgu bod osteoporosis ymhlith merched yn datblygu yn afiechyd sydd yn taro’r rheini yng nghanol eu hugeiniau, ac nid y rhai canol oed. Gall dau beth helpu i osgoi osteoporosis, sydd yn lleihad yn nhrwch yr esgyrn; hynny yw, ymarfer corff a llaeth i bobl ifanc yn eu harddegau. Dylem ystyried hybu hynny.
We talked about sexual education, which is important in schools and we have heard of the increase in teenage pregnancies. We must help our young people to have more self-esteem and esteem for others. Nutrition is also important. Being a little older than some here, I call for a return to home economics so that we can learn about healthy food and how to prepare it quickly and conveniently. I commend amendment 1 to Members and recommend that they support it.
Siaradasom am addysg rhyw, sydd yn bwysig mewn ysgolion a chlywsom am y cynnydd yn nifer y merched yn eu harddegau sydd yn beichiogi. Rhaid inni helpu ein pobl ifanc i gael mwy o hunan-barch a pharch tuag at eraill. Mae maeth yn bwysig hefyd. A minnau ychydig yn hyn na rhai yma, galwaf am ddychwelyd i economeg y cartref, fel y gallwn ddysgu am fwyd iach a sut i’w baratoi yn gyflym ac yn hwylus. Cymeradwyaf welliant 1 i’r Aelodau ac argymhellaf eu bod yn ei gefnogi.
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 80
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 80
We have two more speakers before I call the Minister to wind up. I would be grateful if they would limit their contributions to three minutes each.
Mae gennym ddau siaradwr arall cyn imi alw ar y Gweinidog i gloi. Byddwn yn ddiolchgar pe baent yn cyfyngu eu cyfraniadau i dair munud yr un.
This picks up on David Davies’s point on school playing fields in Wales. The situation in Wales is different to that in England. When I was the Secretary for Education and Children, I only received one request to change the use of a playing field. In Wales, every time an education authority asks for the use of a playing field to be changed, the matter is referred to the Sports Council for Wales. David will be pleased to learn that the sub-committee that was established to examine sport in schools will, hopefully, report within the next month or so. Jane Davidson will then bring forward its recommendations.
Mae hyn yn ailafael â phwynt David Davies ar feysydd chwarae mewn ysgolion yng Nghymru. Mae’r sefyllfa yng Nghymru yn wahanol i’r un yn Lloegr. Pan oeddwn yn Ysgrifennydd dros Addysg a Phlant, dim ond un cais a gefais i newid defnydd maes chwarae. Yng Nghymru, bob tro y bydd awdurdod addysg yn gofyn am newid defnydd maes chwarae, cyfeirir y mater at Gyngor Chwaraeon Cymru. Bydd David yn falch o glywed y bydd yr is-bwyllgor a sefydlwyd i archwilio chwaraeon mewn ysgolion, yn cyflwyno adroddiad, gobeithio, yn y mis neu ddau nesaf. Yna bydd Jane Davidson yn dwyn ei argymhellion gerbron.
This strategy is vital to help to change the face of our communities. As the Minister said, everybody has a part to play in this. I welcome it and the all-party support for it. I have no problem with supporting the amendments that have been proposed by the other parties. I particularly welcome the Conservative amendments, amendments 2 and 3, which is remarkable to say the least, bearing in mind the difficulties that my community suffered under previous Conservative Governments. Perhaps they are purging themselves today of the guilt resulting from those days. It says a great deal about David Melding that he proposed those amendments. I thank him for that.
Mae’r stratgaeth hon yn holl bwysig er mwyn helpu i newid wyneb ein cymunedau. Fel y dywedodd y Gweinidog, mae gan bawb ran i’w chwarae yn hyn. Fe’i croesawaf a chefnogaeth pob plaid iddo. Nid oes gennyf unrhyw broblem gyda chefnogi’r gwelliannau a gynigiwyd gan y pleidiau eraill. Croesawaf yn arbennig welliannau’r Ceidwadwyr, gwelliannau 2 a 3, sydd yn rhyfeddol a dweud y lleiaf, o gofio’r anawsterau a ddioddefodd fy nghymuned o dan y Llywodraethau Ceidwadol blaenorol. Efallai eu bod yn ceisio cael gwared â’r euogrwydd heddiw a ddeilliodd o’r dyddiau hynny. Mae’n dweud llawer iawn am David Melding ei fod wedi cynnig y gwelliannau hynny. Diolchaf iddo am hynny.
It was interesting to hear about ‘Woodbine’ Davies’s formative years, which were spent having a quick fag behind the toilets. His nicotine deprivation is probably what results in the antics that we have to suffer in this Chamber.
Yr oedd yn ddiddorol clywed am flynyddoedd ffurfiannol ‘Woodbine’ Davies, a dreuliwyd yn ysmygu sigarét yn gyflym y tu ôl i’r toiledau. Mae’n siwr mai am ei fod wedi ei amddifadu o nicotîn y mae’n rhaid inni ddioddef ei ystumiau yn y Siambr hon.
Rhodri Morgan The First Minister spoken in English p. 80
Rhodri Morgan Prif Weinidog Cymru siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 80
We could put a nicotine patch over his mouth.
Gallem roi clwt nicotîn dros ei geg.
I hope so. Could you arrange that?
Gobeithio. A allech chi drefnu hynny?
Social and economic wellbeing is important and it concerns us all in this Chamber. From economic prosperity comes all else. If you do not have it, you have a problem. If you are poor, you suffer; you suffer from poor health and poor nutrition, from lack of opportunity and access to facilities, from exclusion—
Mae lles cymdeithasol ac economaidd yn bwysig ac yn destun gofid pob un ohonom yn y Siambr hon. O ffyniant economaidd y daw popeth arall. Os nad yw hyn gennych, mae gennych broblem. Os ydych yn dlawd, byddwch yn dioddef; dioddefwch o iechyd gwael a maeth gwael, o ddiffyg cyfle a mynediad i gyfleusterau, o allgáu—
Alun Cairns a gododd—
Alun Cairns rose—
I cannot take any interventions; I only have four minutes, and people from Blaenau Gwent are more important. Sorry Alun, I will talk to you later.
Ni allaf gymryd unrhyw ymyriadau; dim ond pedair munud sydd gennyf, ac mae pobl o Flaenau Gwent yn bwysicach. Mae’n ddrwg gennyf Alun, siaradaf â chi ar y diwedd.
Lack of confidence and low self-esteem are problems faced by so many communities in Wales now. There is GDP per capita—as Phil Williams has mentioned many times—of 64 per cent of the EU average. There is 12 per cent unemployment in Blaenau Gwent, which also has the second highest mortality rate in the whole of Wales. The ill-health of 46 per cent of the population interferes with their social activities. The ill-health of 23 per cent of adults limits their walking to 100 yards. It has the highest low-birth weight in Wales and the highest figures of income support. Twenty eight per cent of the population have a respiratory illness, and 21 per cent have long-term illnesses; the highest level of decayed teeth in children of five years and under; the least child day-care places; the highest level of under-18 conceptions—
Diffyg hyder a hunan-barch isel yw’r problemau a wynebir gan gynifer o gymunedau yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd. Mae cynnyrch mewnwladol crynswth y pen—fel y soniodd Phil Williams lawer gwaith—o 64 y cant o gyfartaledd yr UE. Mae diweithdra o 12 y cant ym Mlaenau Gwent, sydd â’r ail gyfradd farwolaeth uchaf yng Nghymru gyfan hefyd. Mae salwch 46 y cant o’r boblogaeth yn ymyrryd â’u gweithgareddau cymdeithasol. Mae salwch 23 y cant o oedolion yn cyfyngu eu cerdded i ganllath. Mae ganddi’r pwysau geni isaf yng Nghymru a’r ffigurau uchaf o gymhorthdal incwm. Mae gan 28 y cant o’r boblogaeth salwch anadlol, ac mae gan 21 y cant salwch tymor hir; y lefel uchaf o ddannedd pydredig ymhlith plant o dan bump oed a iau; y nifer lleiaf o leoedd gofal dydd i blant; y lefel uchaf o feichiogi ymhlith merched o dan 18 oed—
Peter Rogers a gododd—
Peter Rogers rose—
I am not taking interventions. I have no time, sorry.
Nid wyf yn cymryd ymyriadau. Mae’n ddrwg gennyf, nid oes amser gennyf.
We share the dubious honour of the highest heart disease rate with Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, and five years less life expectancy than in an adjoining county.
Rhannwn yr anrhydedd amheus â Merthyr Tudful a Rhymni o fod â’r gyfradd uchaf o ran clefyd y galon, a phum mlynedd yn llai o ddisgwyliad einioes na sir gyfagos.
Take all those together and add a few factors, such as 50 per cent of children in most schools receiving free meals, and high rates of statemented children and special needs children. Indeed, if the Minister for Education had had to make a statement on Blaenau Gwent this morning it would have been the reverse of what you heard about Powys.
Ystyriwch y rhain gyda’i gilydd ac ychwanegwch ychydig o ffactorau, fel 50 y cant o blant yn y rhan fwyaf o ysgolion yn cael prydau am ddim, a chyfraddau uchel o blant â datganiad a phlant ag anghenion arbennig. Yn wir, pe bai’r Gweinidog dros Addysg wedi gorfod gwneud datganiad ar Flaenau Gwent y bore yma byddai wedi bod yn groes i’r hyn a glywsoch am Bowys.
That is deprivation and social exclusion, and that is Blaenau Gwent. It is 40 miles away from the front door of the Assembly, and it is not unique. There are other areas with these types of problems, but perhaps not as concentrated. Here is our problem: to make a difference to the future of the people of Wales generally, and to these socially excluded areas in particular. The people of my constituency want a place under the sun because the people of Blaenau Gwent have been in the shadows for far too long. That is why the strategy must work; it must make a difference for these people.
Dyna amddifadedd ac allgáu cymdeithasol, a dyna Flaenau Gwent. Mae 40 milltir i ffwrdd o’r Cynulliad, ac nid yw’n unigryw. Mae ardaloedd eraill â’r mathau hyn o broblemau, ond efallai nid mor grynodedig. Dyma yw ein problem: gwneud gwahaniaeth i ddyfodol pobl Cymru yn gyffredinol, ac yn arbennig, i’r ardaloedd hyn sydd wedi eu hallgáu yn gymdeithasol. Mae pobl yn fy etholaeth eisiau bod yng ngolau’r haul gan fod pobl Blaenau Gwent wedi bod yn y cysgodion ers gormod o amser o lawer. Dyna pam bod yn rhaid i’r strategaeth weithio; rhaid iddi wneud gwahaniaeth i’r bobl hyn.
I welcome the reference to schools, employers, the voluntary sector, local government and health bodies all working together with the one aim of improving the health of the community. Young people smoking is a major concern in schools. It is imperative that we do something about these young people drowning in smoke. We will fight it with a strategy like this.
Croesawaf y cyfeiriad at ysgolion, cyflogwyr, y sector gwirfoddol, llywodraeth leol a chyrff iechyd i gyd yn gweithio gyda’i gilydd gyda’r un nod o wella iechyd y gymuned. Mae pobl ifanc yn ysmygu yn achos pryder mawr mewn ysgolion. Mae’n hanfodol ein bod yn gwneud rhywbeth am y bobl ifanc hyn sydd yn boddi mewn mwg. Byddwn yn ei ymladd gyda strategaeth fel hyn.
We also need to ensure that we tackle fitness levels, obesity, and sexual and mental health, which is all covered here also. It is vitally important. It all goes towards getting social justice in communities that have not had it for some time. I must support Lynne Neagle when she says that we need fairer funding to tackle these problems. A fairer funding formula must be weighted to distribute resources towards those socially excluded areas.
Mae angen inni sicrhau hefyd ein bod yn mynd i’r afael â lefelau ffitrwydd, tewdra, ac iechyd rhywiol a meddwl, ac mae’r cyfan wedi ei gwmpasu yma hefyd. Mae’n holl bwysig. Â’r cyfan tuag at sicrhau cyfiawnder cymdeithasol mewn cymunedau nad ydynt wedi ei gael ers peth amser. Rhaid imi gefnogi Lynne Neagle pan ddywed fod angen arian tecach arnom i fynd i’r afael â’r problemau hyn. Rhaid pwyso a mesur fformwla ariannu tecach i ddosbarthu adnoddau i’r ardaloedd hynny sydd wedi eu hallgáu yn gymdeithasol.
When you have the lowest number of hospital beds per 1000 in Wales, as we have in Gwent, something needs to be looked at. It is important that we support our health alliances, Sure Start, Communities First and the new opportunities fund, because with this strategy, and with all those people working together we can change things and get our communities active. We can ensure that following generations get the future that the Assembly wants them to have. That is why I am delighted to support this strategy today.
Pan fydd gennych y lefel isaf o welyau mewn ysbytai fesul 1000 yng Nghymru, fel sydd gennym yng Ngwent, mae angen edrych ar rywbeth. Mae’n bwysig ein bod yn cefnogi ein cynghreiriau iechyd, Cychwyn Cadarn, Rhoi Cymunedau’n Gyntaf a’r gronfa cyfleoedd newydd, oherwydd gyda’r strategaeth hon, a’r holl bobl hynny yn gweithio gyda’i gilydd, gallwn newid pethau ac ysgogi ein cymunedau. Gallwn sicrhau bod cenedlaethau i ddod yn cael y dyfodol y mae’r Cynulliad am iddynt ei gael. Dyna pam y mae’n bleser gennyf gefnogi’r strategaeth hon heddiw.
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 83
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 83
You were not on my list for speaking, John Griffiths, but I will give you one minute.
Nid oeddech ar fy rhestr i siarad, John Griffiths, ond cewch funud gennyf.
Thank you. I should have been; I will discuss it with you later.
Diolch ichi. Dylwn fod wedi bod; fe drafodaf hynny â chi yn ddiweddarach.
We have a simple, basic and effective message to give on health promotion and we have been telling it. We hear all the time that we need to exercise more, eat a low-fat, high-fibre diet, eat more fruit and vegetables, cut down on alcohol and preferably not smoke at all. It is a straightforward message, which many people have understood. The problem is that the media in general often confuse people by coming out with all sorts of theories as to how people could have healthy lifestyles. People find it confusing—the messages are often conflicting—and say things such as, ‘well if you listened to what they tell you, you would not eat anything at all’. Our basic message must cut across that, and I think that it does.
Mae gennym neges syml, sylfaenol ac effeithiol i’w rhoi ar hybu iechyd a buom yn ei rhoi. Clywn drwy’r amser fod angen inni ymarfer corff mwy, bwyta deiet isel o ran braster, uchel o ran ffibr, bwyta mwy o ffrwythau a llysiau, yfed llai o alcohol a pheidio ag ysmygu o gwbl o ddewis. Mae’n neges syml, y mae llawer o bobl wedi ei deall. Y broblem yw bod y cyfryngau yn gyffredinol yn aml yn drysu pobl drwy adrodd am bob math o ddamcaniaethau o ran sut y gallai pobl fyw yn iach. Yn aml bydd pobl yn drysu—mae’r negeseuon yn aml yn groes i’w gilydd—ac yn dweud pethau fel, ‘wel, pe baech yn gwrando ar yr hyn a ddywedant, ni fyddech yn bwyta o gwbl’. Rhaid i’n neges sylfaenol dorri ar draws hynny, a chredaf ei bod yn gwneud.
I congratulate Jane for emphasising, from day one, socio-economic factors and for taking them fully on board in her thinking and statements and policies. People are not receptive to healthy living messages if they are struggling to make ends meet from day to day and from week to week. We must recognise that and have a strategy to cope with it. I ask Jane to address food-labelling issues, because if people want to eat healthily, they must know the contents of the food that they are buying and eating. Too often we are not in a position, as consumers, to know exactly what the content of the food that we buy and eat is. That needs addressing.
Hoffwn longyfarch Jane am bwysleisio, o’r diwrnod cyntaf, y ffactorau cymdeithasol-economaidd ac am eu cynnwys yn ei thybiaeth a’i datganiadau a’i pholisïau. Nid yw pobl yn barod i wrando ar negeseuon byw yn iach os ydynt yn brwydro i gael deupen llinyn ynghyd o ddydd i ddydd ac o wythnos i wythnos. Rhaid inni gydnabod hynny a chael strategaeth i ymdopi ag ef. Gofynnaf i Jane ymdrin â materion labelu bwyd, oherwydd os bydd pobl am fwyta’n iach, rhaid iddynt wybod beth yw cynnwys y bwyd y maent yn ei brynu a’i fwyta. Yn amlach na pheidio, nid ydym mewn sefyllfa, fel defnyddwyr, i wybod yn union beth sydd yn y bwyd a brynwn ac a fwytawn. Mae angen ymdrin â hynny.
Finally, young people, in my experience, often seem to think that they will live forever. I perhaps felt like that when I was a teenager. They are not receptive to the sort of messages that we send when they think like that. We need to address that as well, and perhaps target some of our message at people in their mid to late 20s and early 30s, when they are more receptive to changing their lifestyles towards healthy living.
Yn olaf, ymddengys fod pobl ifanc, yn fy mhrofiad i, yn aml yn credu y byddant yn byw am byth. Efallai y teimlais innau yr un peth pan oeddwn yn fy arddegau. Nid ydynt yn barod i dderbyn y math o negeseuon a anfonwn pan maent o’r farn honno. Mae angen inni ymdrin â hynny hefyd, a thargedu rhai o’n negeseuon at bobl sydd yng nghanol i ddiwedd eu 20au a dechrau eu 30au, pan fyddant yn barotach i newid eu ffordd o fyw tuag at fwyta’n iach.
Although we had the statement on Blaenavon in the middle of this debate, we have had an excellent discussion. The announcement about Blaenavon is relevant to the debate, because promoting prosperity and opportunity is part of the wider health agenda. In Blaenavon, the spirit and hope and expectations of people in that community will rise as a result of today’s marvellous news. That takes us on to the point about how we can ensure that we make those connections about building confidence, building self-esteem and building aspirations, which is all about promoting optimism in the wider health agenda.
Er inni gael y datganiad ar Flaenafon yng nghanol y ddadl hon, cawsom drafodaeth ragorol. Mae’r cyhoeddiad ar Flaenafon yn berthnasol i’r ddadl, am fod hybu ffyniant a chyfle yn rhan o’r agenda iechyd ehangach. Ym Mlaenafon, bydd ysbryd a gobaith a disgwyliadau pobl yn y gymuned honno yn codi o ganlyniad i newyddion gwych heddiw. Mae hynny yn ein harwain at y pwynt ynglyn â sut y gallwn sicrhau y gwnawn y cysylltiadau hynny ynglyn ag adeiladu hyder, hunan-barch a dyheadau, sydd i gyd yn ymwneud â hybu optimistiaeth yn yr agenda iechyd ehangach.
I turn to Dai Lloyd’s contribution. We support amendment 1. There is much cross-party agreement about this health agenda. There are a few issues along the way in the debate, on which I will touch, where we may differ. However, we understand in this Chamber, and across all parties, that promoting health in its widest sense is vital for the economic and social health and wellbeing of the people of Wales. Local government is critical to this agenda—you are right, Dai. That is why many people go into politics. They see the importance of local government. That is why we have given the responsibility for the co-ordination of local health alliances to local government, so that it can steer the way in partnership, with the voluntary sector in particular, but also with the NHS. The responsibility for environmental health, transport, social services and housing is all at local level. It is important that in our partnership with local government we have had a health and wellbeing taskforce, which has done some good work. It will report shortly to the Assembly and to local government.
Trof at gyfraniad Dai Lloyd. Cefnogwn welliant 1. Mae llawer o gytundeb traws-bleidiol ynglyn â’r agenda iechyd hon. Mae ychydig o faterion ar hyd y ffordd yn y ddadl, y byddaf yn cyffwrdd â hwy, lle y byddwn yn gwahaniaethu efallai. Fodd bynnag, deallwn yn y Siambr hon, ac ar draws bob plaid, fod hybu iechyd yn ei ystyr ehangaf yn holl bwysig ar gyfer iechyd a lles economaidd a chymdeithasol pobl Cymru. Mae llywodraeth leol yn holl bwysig i’r agenda hon—yr ydych yn gywir, Dai. Dyna pam bod cymaint o bobl yn dewis gwleidyddiaeth. Gwelant bwysigrwydd llywodraeth leol. Dyna pam y rhoddasom y cyfrifoldeb dros gydlynu cynghreiriau iechyd lleol i lywodraeth leol, fel y gall lywio’r ffordd mewn partneriaeth, â’r sector gwirfoddol yn arbennig, ond â’r NHS hefyd. Mae’r cyfrifoldeb dros iechyd yr amgylchedd, trafnidiaeth, gwasanaethau cymdeithasol a thai i gyd ar lefel leol. Mae’n bwysig ein bod, yn ein partneriaeth â llywodraeth leol, wedi cael tasglu iechyd a lles, sydd wedi gwneud peth gwaith da. Bydd yn cyflwyno adroddiad yn fuan i’r Cynulliad ac i lywodraeth leol.
Health is thought of in broad terms, which is why the NHS is only part of the answer. This goes back to the point that has been made about the importance of using our resources in the health service wisely. It is only part of the answer, however. The wider public health agenda and how we tackle these determinants of ill-health are critical. Many contributions have been about smoking. You started this off, Dai, with your point about smoking-related deaths in Wales. Smoking cessation initiatives are not easy. We must learn what works and what does not. Many of you might have seen an advert in the press recently about the impact of nicotine patches and how people have been able to give up smoking by using them. With young people, it is not as simple as just having those good projects in primary schools—the smoke busting clubs and the smoke-free classroom competitions. A primary school class from Merthyr Tydfil won a prize for making a video about stopping smoking. They went to Munich to celebrate with others. Their key aim as primary school children was to stop their mums and dads and aunties smoking. Further down the road, when they become adolescents, it is a much harder message. John, Christine, Kirsty and others have made the point that we cannot lecture people about smoking.
Ystyrir iechyd mewn termau cyffredinol, ac felly dyna pam mai dim ond rhan o’r ateb yw’r NHS. Dychwela hyn at y pwynt a wnaed am bwysigrwydd defnyddio ein hadnoddau yn y gwasanaeth iechyd yn ddoeth. Dim ond rhan o’r ateb ydyw, fodd bynnag. Mae’r agenda iechyd ehangach a sut yr awn i’r afael â’r penderfynyddion salwch hyn yn holl bwysig. Bu llawer o’r cyfraniadau ynglyn ag ysmygu. Dai, chi a ddechreuodd hyn, drwy sôn am farwolaethau oedd yn gysylltiedig ag ysmygu yng Nghymru. Nid yw mentrau peidio ag ysmygu yn hawdd. Rhaid inni ddysgu beth sydd yn gweithio a beth nad yw’n gweithio. Efallai bod llawer ohonoch wedi gweld hysbyseb yn y wasg yn ddiweddar am effaith clytiau nicotîn a sut y mae pobl wedi llwyddo i roi’r gorau i ysmygu drwy eu defnyddio. Gyda phobl ifanc, nid yw mor syml â chael y prosiectau da hynny mewn ysgolion cynradd—y clybiau mygu mwg a’r cystadlaethau ystafelloedd dosbarth di-fwg. Enillodd dosbarth ysgol gynradd o Ferthyr Tudful wobr am wneud fideo ynglyn â rhoi’r gorau i ysmygu. Aethant i Munich i ddathlu gydag eraill. Eu prif nod fel plant ysgol gynradd oedd cael eu mamau a’u tadau a’u modrybedd i roi’r gorau i ysmygu. Yn nes ymlaen, pan fyddant yn eu llencyndod, mae’n neges anos o lawer. Gwnaeth John, Christine, Kirsty ac eraill y pwynt na allwn bregethu wrth bobl am ysmygu.
We all know the pressures and many of us have been there. It is not just about peer pressure or the attraction of smoking but other issues. Jocelyn raised important points about the media and the issue of smoking and diet in young women. We must know what works. It goes back to the fact that we must listen to young people as well as listening to the experts in the health promotion field about how we tackle smoking, which Dai Lloyd, David Melding and others have spoken about so powerfully.
Gwyr pob un ohonom am y pwysau ac mae llawer ohonom wedi eu hwynebu. Mae’n ymwneud nid yn unig â phwysau cyfoedion neu atyniad ysmygu ond â materion eraill. Cododd Jocelyn bwyntiau pwysig am y cyfryngau a materion ysmygu a deiet mewn merched ifanc. Rhaid inni wybod beth sydd yn gweithio. Mae’n dychwelyd at y ffaith fod yn rhaid inni wrando ar bobl ifanc yn ogystal â gwrando ar yr arbenigwyr ym maes hybu iechyd ynglyn â sut yr awn i’r afael ag ysmygu, y mae Dai Lloyd, David Melding ac eraill wedi traethu arno mor bwerus.
In terms of poverty and ill-health, we have all taken this on board and it is about improving access to services as Lynne Neagle, Dai Lloyd, Kirsty Williams, David Melding and Peter Law mentioned. That is why I launched the health inequalities fund, which will provide £3 million for next year and increase to £6 million over the next three years. It is important that we target those resources to the communities that suffer, not only in terms of ill-health, but as a result of the inverse care law, which means that they have poorer resources and services. We also link that to the Townsend review, which is currently underway.
Yn nhermau tlodi a salwch, mae pob un ohonom wedi ystyried hyn ac mae’n ymwneud â gwella’r hawl i wasanaethau fel y soniodd Lynne Neagle, Dai Lloyd, Kirsty Williams, David Melding a Peter Law. Dyna pam y lansiais y gronfa anghydraddoldebau iechyd, a fydd yn darparu £3 miliwn ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf gan gynyddu i £6 miliwn dros y tair blynedd nesaf. Mae’n bwysig ein bod yn targedu’r adnoddau hynny i’r cymunedau sydd yn dioddef, nid yn unig o ran salwch, ond o ganlyniad i’r ddeddf gofal wrthdro, sydd yn golygu bod ganddynt adnoddau a gwasanaethau tlotach. Cysylltwn hynny hefyd ag adolygiad Townsend, sydd ar y gweill ar hyn o bryd.
The evidence shows that there is a health divide. The more prosperous some communities become—Dai, you touched on this—the greater the inequalities. We must tackle the relative inequalities in Wales. We may improve our GDP and our prosperity, but if we do nothing to help the poorest people their experience of poverty and ill-health will deepen. This is fundamental to every Assembly Committee and to every Cabinet Minister. It is fundamental to the economic development agenda in how we use Objective 1 and how we take on board the health impact assessment. It is important for education and the environment. I hope that all the Subject Committees will recognise that we must redistribute health status, health care and health resources in Wales, if we are to make a difference.
In terms of David Melding’s points, we must acknowledge lifestyle choices. We are all pleased that the Conservatives have recognised the errors of the ways of the former Government and of Mrs Thatcher who buried the Black report. [CONSERVATIVE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS: ‘Come on.’] It was said in good spirit. We acknowledge that you have had a change of heart. Even David Davies has admitted the mistakes of the former Government. David, we are pleased—
Dengys y dystiolaeth fod rhaniad o ran iechyd. Po fwyaf ffyniannus y daw rhai o’r cymunedau—Dai, soniasoch am hyn—po fwyaf yr anghydraddoldebau. Rhaid inni fynd i’r afael â’r anghydraddoldebau cymharol yng Nghymru. Efallai y gwellwn ein cynnyrch mewnwladol crynswth a’n ffyniant, ond os na wnawn ddim byd i helpu’r bobl dlotaf bydd eu profiad o dlodi ac afiechyd yn dwysáu. Mae hyn yn sylfaenol i bob Pwyllgor yn y Cynulliad ac i bob Gweinidog yn y Cynulliad. Mae’n sylfaenol i’r agenda datblygu economaidd yn y modd y defnyddiwn Amcan 1 a sut yr ystyriwn yr asesiad ar effaith iechyd. Mae’n bwysig ar gyfer addysg a’r amgylchedd. Gobeithiaf y bydd y Pwyllgorau Pwnc yn cydnabod bod yn rhaid inni ailddosbarthu statws iechyd, gofal iechyd ac adnoddau iechyd yng Nghymru, os ydym i wneud gwahaniaeth. O ran pwyntiau David Melding, rhaid inni gydnabod dewisiadau ffordd o fyw. Mae pob un ohonom yn falch bod y Ceidwadwyr wedi cydnabod camgymeriadau’r Llywodraeth flaenorol a Mrs Thatcher a gladdodd adroddiad Black. [AELODAU CEIDWADOL O’R CYNULLIAD: ‘Dewch ymlaen’] Fe’i dywedwyd mewn ysbryd da. Cydnabyddwn eich bod wedi newid eich meddwl. Mae hyd yn oed David Davies wedi cyfaddef camgymeriadau’r Llywodraeth flaenorol. David, yr ydym yn falch—
I make it clear that we have never taken the hard-line position that you now attribute to us. It is a parody of our position. However, I am happy to make our recognition of socio-economic factors explicit and it was in that spirit that the amendment was tabled.
Egluraf nad ydym erioed wedi arddel y safbwynt digyfaddawd y priodolwch inni yn awr. Mae’n barodi o’n safbwynt. Fodd bynnag, yr wyf yn falch o wneud ein cydnabyddiaeth o’r ffactorau cymdeithasol economaidd yn eglur ac yn yr ysbryd hwnnw y cyflwynwyd y gwelliant.
We are grateful, and in that spirit we move forward to recognise the link between poverty and ill-health, which Donald Acheson, who was Chief Medical Officer when Labour came to power in 1997, confirmed.
Yr ydym yn ddiolchgar, ac yn yr ysbryd hwnnw symudwn ymlaen i gydnabod y cysylltiad rhwng tlodi a salwch, a gadarnhaodd Donald Acheson, sef y Prif Swyddog Meddygol pan ddaeth Llafur i rym ym 1997.
We need to ensure that our GDP rises in the poorest communities and that it is linked to economic wellbeing. We must recognise that while death rates have fallen and life expectancy rates have risen, inequalities have increased and that is the critical challenge for all of us. David, you made some important comments about the role of the voluntary sector, the role of carers and the importance of the mental health strategy. I have had submissions this week from the Royal National Institute for the Blind about the importance of health inequalities regarding people with visual impairments. Earlier this week, as Brian mentioned, Mencap talked about the role of carers, particularly older carers. They are as important as younger carers. Many speakers have talked about mental health. The mental health strategy that we will implement after much consultation must also address health inequalities. In the Valleys, we know that there are more mental health problems, higher levels of teenage pregnancy and lone parenthood, higher levels of self-reported sickness and dependency on invalidity and incapacity benefits. Peter Law, you rightly read out the roll call, which is shameful in terms of the experience of people living in those communities. It links to our actions on the wider health agenda, mental health strategies, environmental issues, economic development, housing and all other areas.
Rhaid inni sicrhau bod ein cynnyrch mewnwladol crynswth yn codi yn y cymunedau tlotaf a’i fod yn gysylltiedig â lles economaidd. Rhaid inni gydnabod, er bod cyfraddau marwolaeth wedi gostwng a chyfraddau disgwyliad oes wedi codi, bod anghydraddoldebau wedi cynyddu a dyna’r her holl bwysig i bob un ohonom. David, gwnaethoch rai sylwadau pwysig am rôl y sector gwirfoddol, rôl cynhalwyr a phwysigrwydd y strategaeth iechyd meddwl. Cefais gyflwyniadau’r wythnos hon gan Sefydliad Cenedlaethol Brenhinol y Deillion am bwysigrwydd anghydraddoldebau iechyd o ran bobl â nam gweledol. Yn gynharach yr wythnos hon, fel y soniodd Brian, soniodd Mencap am rôl cynhalwyr, yn arbennig cynhalwyr hyn. Maent yr un mor bwysig â chynhalwyr ifancach. Mae llawer o lefarwyr wedi sôn am iechyd meddwl. Bydd yn rhaid i’r strategaeth iechyd meddwl, a weithredir gennym ar ôl llawer o ymgynghori, ymdrin ag anghydraddoldebau iechyd hefyd. Yn y Cymoedd, gwyddom fod mwy o broblemau iechyd meddwl, lefelau uwch o feichiogrwydd ymysg merched yn eu harddegau a rhieni sengl, lefelau uwch o salwch a hunangofnodir a dibyniaeth ar fudd-daliadau anabledd ac analluogrwydd. Peter Law, darllenasoch y gofrestr ac yr oeddech yn iawn i wneud hynny, ac mae’n gywilyddus o ran profiad y bobl sydd yn byw yn y cymunedau hynny. Mae’n cysylltu â’r camau a gymerwn ynglyn â’r agenda iechyd ehangach, strategaethau iechyd meddwl, materion amgylcheddol, datblygiad economaidd, tai a phob maes arall.
Members have asked how changes can be made. Christine Chapman, Peter Law and others made powerful contributions on the importance of enabling young people to realise that there is hope in life. The connection must be made between self-esteem and improving aspirations, opportunities and self-confidence. That is vitally important to young men and women in the Valleys. There is a clear connection with teenage pregnancies. Young men and women in those communities need hopes and expectations for the future.
Gofynnodd yr aelodau sut y gellir gwneud newidiadau. Gwnaeth Christine Chapman, Peter Law ac eraill gyfraniadau pwerus ar bwysigrwydd galluogi pobl ifanc i sylweddoli bod gobaith mewn bywyd. Rhaid gwneud y cysylltiad rhwng hunan-barch a gwella dyheadau, cyfleoedd a hunan-hyder. Mae hynny’n holl bwysig i ddynion a merched ifanc yn y Cymoedd. Mae cysylltiad clir â merched yn beichiogi yn eu harddegau. Mae angen gobeithion a disgwyliadau ar gyfer y dyfodol ar y dynion a’r merched ifanc yn y cymunedau hynny.
Alun Cairns, Kirsty Williams and others mentioned the importance of food. Research shows that, in the poorest communities, there is a poor range of shops; food and other essentials are expensive, costing above average, and the public transport provision is poor. If obtaining healthier food is more expensive, it is difficult for people to consider eating healthily. Alun is right that we must ensure that basic enjoyment of cookery is reinstated as part of the curriculum in schools.
Mae Alun Cairns, Kirsty Williams ac eraill wedi sôn am bwysigrwydd bwyd. Dengys ymchwil fod amrywiaeth wael o siopau yn y cymunedau tlotaf; bod bwyd a hanfodion eraill yn gostus, yn costio mwy na’r cyfartaledd, a bod darpariaeth cludiant cyhoeddus yn wael. Os yw cael bwyd iachach yn costio mwy, mae’n anodd i bobl ystyried bwyta’n iach. Mae Alun yn iawn bod yn rhaid inni sicrhau y caiff mwynhad sylfaenol coginio ei adfer fel rhan o’r cwricwlwm mewn ysgolion.
Do you accept that fresh produce is quite often cheaper than some ready-made meals on supermarket shelves?
A ydych yn derbyn bod cynnyrch ffres yn eithaf aml yn rhatach na rhai prydau parod ar silffoedd yr archfarchnad?
Fresh produce is cheaper. However, it is not always available as cheaply in small and more expensive shops in the Valleys and in rural areas. People in those areas do not have access to cheap fruit and vegetables in markets. Fruit tuck shops in schools are important as they allow children to access fruit and learn how enjoyable it is. They enable teachers to introduce fruit into the curriculum. That is taking place through primary school fruit tuck shop projects. Community food initiatives are also important. I have just launched a scheme that awards grants to community food initiatives across Wales. That will assist in building access to community food.
Mae cynnyrch ffres yn rhatach. Fodd bynnag, nid yw bob amser ar gael mor rhad mewn siopau bach a mwy costus yn y Cymoedd ac mewn ardaloedd gwledig. Ni all y bobl yn yr ardaloedd hynny fanteisio ar ffrwythau a llysiau rhad mewn marchnadoedd. Mae siopau ffrwythau mewn ysgolion yn bwysig gan eu bod yn caniatáu i blant gael gafael ar ffrwythau a dysgu pa mor bleserus yw eu bwyta. Galluogant athrawon i gyflwyno ffrwythau yn y cwricwlwm. Mae hynny’n digwydd drwy brosiectau siopau ffrwythau mewn ysgolion cynradd. Mae mentrau bwyd cymunedol yn bwysig hefyd. Yr wyf newydd lansio cynllun sy’n rhoi grantiau i fentrau bwyd cymunedol ledled Cymru. Bydd hynny’n helpu wrth sicrhau yr hawl i fwyd cymunedol.
In response to David Melding’s point, it is vital that Health Promotion Wales is now a part of the Assembly. Its staff are pleased to be here, and it has brought many skills and much expertise to the Assembly. It has also brought evidence of what works and does not work and its links with the health service, the voluntary sector and with people working in the field.
Ac ymateb i bwynt David Melding, mae’n holl bwysig bod Hybu Iechyd Cymru bellach yn rhan o’r Cynulliad. Mae ei staff yn falch o fod yma, ac mae wedi dod â llawer o sgiliau ac arbenigedd i’r Cynulliad. Mae hefyd wedi dod â thystiolaeth o’r hyn sydd yn gweithio a’r hyn nad yw’n gweithio ac yn cysylltu â’r gwasanaeth iechyd, y sector gwirfoddol a’r bobl sydd yn gweithio yn y maes.
In reviewing and monitoring in future, we must ask whether we have made a difference to people’s health and whether we have achieved our health gain targets. I do not want health promotion to be seen as an adjunct or an add-on to the Assembly. It is essential to improving health and wellbeing. Health Promotion Wales wants to feel that it is part of that. I am sure that David Melding agrees.
Wrth arolygu a monitro yn y dyfodol, rhaid inni ofyn a ydym wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth i iechyd pobl ac a ydym wedi cyflawni ein targedau gwella iechyd. Nid wyf am i hybu iechyd gael ei ystyried yn ategiad neu’n ychwanegiad i’r Cynulliad. Mae’n hanfodol i wella iechyd a lles. Mae Hybu Iechyd Cymru am deimlo ei fod yn rhan o hynny. Yr wyf yn siwr y cytuna David Melding.
Kirsty rightly mentioned that the partnership agreement has shifted health promotion up the agenda. I have already mentioned breakfast clubs and fruit tuck shops. Breakfast clubs are key for young children who come to school without any food in their stomachs. Children cannot be expected to relax and achieve or attain anything during a school day if they start it with an empty stomach. We will develop breakfast clubs through community food initiatives, where children and others in the community can pop in and start the day with a healthier diet.
Soniodd Kirsty fod y cytundeb partneriaeth wedi symud hybu iechyd i fyny’r agenda. Yr wyf eisoes wedi sôn am glybiau brecwast a siopau ffrwythau mewn ysgolion. Mae clybiau brecwast yn allweddol i blant bach sydd yn dod i’r ysgol heb unrhyw fwyd yn eu stumogau. Ni ellir disgwyl i blant ymlacio a chyflawni unrhyw beth yn ystod y diwrnod ysgol os dechreuant y diwrnod gyda stumog wag. Byddwn yn datblygu clybiau brecwast drwy fentrau bwyd cymunedol, lle y gall plant ac eraill yn y gymuned alw i mewn a dechrau’r diwrnod gyda deiet iachach.
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 89
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 89
Are you nearing the end of your speech?
A ydych yn dod i ddiwedd eich araith?
Yes. Many other important contributions have been made to this debate. I will write to Alun Cairns about prostate screening, as I know that he is concerned about that. Brian Hancock will be glad to hear that midwives, as well as health visitors, which were mentioned earlier, are a key part of the health team at primary care level.
Ydw. Gwnaethpwyd cyfraniadau pwysig eraill i’r ddadl hon. Byddaf yn ysgrifennu at Alun Cairns ynglyn â sgrinio ar gyfer canser y brostrad, gan fy mod yn gwybod ei fod yn pryderu yn ei gylch. Bydd Brian Hancock yn falch o glywed bod bydwragedd, yn ogystal ag ymwelwyr iechyd, y soniwyd amdanynt yn gynharach, yn rhan allweddol o’r tîm iechyd ar lefel gofal sylfaenol.
Geraint Davies and Christine Chapman mentioned primary care development in Rhondda Cynon Taff. It is driven by the local health group, led by Dr Chris Jones, who is a pioneering GP in that community. Young GPs are being encouraged and enabled to move to the Cynon Valley to work. There are moves towards an intermediate healthcare facility, which will be considered shortly by Bro Taf Health Authority and by the Assembly.
Soniodd Geraint Davies a Christine Chapman am ddatblygiad gofal cynradd yn Rhondda Cynon Taf. Fe’i hybir gan y grwp iechyd lleol, o dan arweiniad Dr Chris Jones, sydd yn feddyg teulu arloeosol yn y gymuned honno. Caiff meddygon teulu ifanc eu hannog a’u galluogi i symud i Gwm Cynon i weithio. Mae cynlluniau ar y gweill i symud tuag at gyfleuster gofal iechyd canolradd, a ystyrir cyn bo hir gan Awdurdod Iechyd Bro Taf a chan y Cynulliad.
Radical changes are being made, which mean that the primary care led health service that we want in Wales is developing. We have seen the fruits of that, which you and others have acknowledged today. In answer to Lorraine and others, Communities First is vital because if we want to target those pockets of poverty in all parts of Wales, we must consider how we can reach the poorest people and recognise that their ill-health is often forgotten in terms of wider prosperity. Unfortunately, that is part of the big health divide in Wales and the fact that some of its citizens suffer the poorest health in the UK and western Europe. This proactive approach is radical; it is not only a wish list. It is backed by money and requires every Committee and Cabinet Minster to consider what it means in terms of their agendas and, in particular, how we can make the best use of Objective 1 in the communities in the Valleys and west Wales where the poorest health prevails.
Gwneir newidiadau radical, sydd yn golygu bod y gwasanaeth iechyd, wedi ei arwain gan ofal sylfaenol, yr ydym am ei gael yng Nghymru, yn datblygu. Gwelsom ffrwyth hynny, ac yr ydych chi ac eraill wedi cydnabod hynny heddiw. I ateb Lorraine ac eraill, mae Rhoi Cymunedau’n Gyntaf yn holl bwysig oherwydd os ydym i dargedu’r pocedi hynny o dlodi ym mhob rhan o Gymru, rhaid inni ystyried sut y gallwn gyrraedd y bobl dlotaf a chydnabod y caiff eu salwch yn aml ei anghofio yn nhermau ffyniant ehangach. Yn anffodus, mae hynny’n rhan o’r bwlch iechyd mawr sydd yng Nghymru a’r ffaith fod rhai o’i dinasyddion yn dioddef o’r iechyd gwaelaf yn y DU a gorllewin Ewrop. Mae’r ymagwedd ragweithiol hon yn radical; nid rhestr o ddymuniadau yn unig ydyw. Fe’i hategir gan arian ac mae’n galw ar bob Pwyllgor a Gweinidog o’r Cabinet i ystyried beth mae’n ei olygu mewn perthynas â’u hagendâu, ac yn arbennig, sut y gallwn wneud y defnydd gorau o Amcan 1 yng nghymunedau’r Cymoedd a gorllewin Cymru lle mae’r iechyd gwaelaf.
Gwelliant 1 David Lloyd t. 90
Amendment 1 David Lloyd p. 90
DerbyniwydAdopted O blaidFor 50 YmatalAbstain 0 Yn erbynAgainst 0
Derbyniwyd y gwelliant.
Amendment adopted.
Sut y pleidleisiodd yr AelodauHow Members voted
O blaidFor (50)
- Lorraine Barrett
- Mick Bates
- Nick Bourne
- Rosemary Butler
- Alun Cairns
- Christine Chapman
- Cynog Dafis
- Jane Davidson
- Andrew Davies
- David Davies
- Geraint Davies
- Jocelyn Davies
- Ron Davies
- Richard Edwards
- Sue Essex
- Delyth Evans
- Val Feld
- Michael German
- William Graham
- Janice Gregory
- John Griffiths
- Christine Gwyther
- Alison Halford
- Brian Hancock
- Jane Hutt
- Pauline Jarman
- Carwyn Jones
- Elin Jones
- Gareth Jones
- Helen Mary Jones
- Ieuan Wyn Jones
- Peter Law
- Huw Lewis
- David Lloyd
- David Melding
- Tom Middlehurst
- Jonathan Morgan
- Rhodri Morgan
- Lynne Neagle
- Alun Pugh
- Jenny Randerson
- Rod Richards
- Peter Rogers
- Janet Ryder
- Gwenda Thomas
- Owen John Thomas
- Rhodri Glyn Thomas
- Dafydd Wigley
- Kirsty Williams
- Phil Williams
Gwelliant 2 David Melding t. 91
Amendment 2 David Melding p. 91
DerbyniwydAdopted O blaidFor 49 YmatalAbstain 1 Yn erbynAgainst 0
Derbyniwyd y gwelliant.
Amendment adopted.
Sut y pleidleisiodd yr AelodauHow Members voted
O blaidFor (49)
- Lorraine Barrett
- Mick Bates
- Nick Bourne
- Rosemary Butler
- Alun Cairns
- Christine Chapman
- Cynog Dafis
- Jane Davidson
- Andrew Davies
- Geraint Davies
- Glyn Davies
- Jocelyn Davies
- Ron Davies
- Richard Edwards
- Sue Essex
- Delyth Evans
- Val Feld
- Michael German
- William Graham
- Janice Gregory
- John Griffiths
- Christine Gwyther
- Alison Halford
- Brian Hancock
- Jane Hutt
- Pauline Jarman
- Carwyn Jones
- Elin Jones
- Gareth Jones
- Helen Mary Jones
- Ieuan Wyn Jones
- Peter Law
- Huw Lewis
- David Lloyd
- David Melding
- Tom Middlehurst
- Jonathan Morgan
- Rhodri Morgan
- Lynne Neagle
- Alun Pugh
- Jenny Randerson
- Rod Richards
- Peter Rogers
- Janet Ryder
- Gwenda Thomas
- Rhodri Glyn Thomas
- Dafydd Wigley
- Kirsty Williams
- Phil Williams
YmatalAbstain (1)
- David Davies
Gwelliant 3 David Melding t. 92
Amendment 3 David Melding p. 92
DerbyniwydAdopted O blaidFor 50 YmatalAbstain 0 Yn erbynAgainst 0
Derbyniwyd y gwelliant.
Amendment adopted.
Sut y pleidleisiodd yr AelodauHow Members voted
O blaidFor (50)
- Lorraine Barrett
- Mick Bates
- Nick Bourne
- Rosemary Butler
- Alun Cairns
- Christine Chapman
- Cynog Dafis
- Jane Davidson
- Andrew Davies
- David Davies
- Geraint Davies
- Glyn Davies
- Jocelyn Davies
- Ron Davies
- Richard Edwards
- Sue Essex
- Delyth Evans
- Val Feld
- Michael German
- William Graham
- Janice Gregory
- John Griffiths
- Christine Gwyther
- Alison Halford
- Brian Hancock
- Jane Hutt
- Pauline Jarman
- Carwyn Jones
- Elin Jones
- Gareth Jones
- Helen Mary Jones
- Ieuan Wyn Jones
- Peter Law
- Huw Lewis
- David Lloyd
- David Melding
- Tom Middlehurst
- Jonathan Morgan
- Rhodri Morgan
- Lynne Neagle
- Alun Pugh
- Jenny Randerson
- Rod Richards
- Peter Rogers
- Janet Ryder
- Gwenda Thomas
- Rhodri Glyn Thomas
- Dafydd Wigley
- Kirsty Williams
- Phil Williams
Cynnig wedi’i ddiwygio Jane Hutt t. 94
Amended motion Jane Hutt p. 94
DerbyniwydAdopted O blaidFor 51 YmatalAbstain 0 Yn erbynAgainst 0
Derbyniwyd y cynnig wedi’i ddiwygio.
Amended motion adopted.
Sut y pleidleisiodd yr AelodauHow Members voted
O blaidFor (51)
- Lorraine Barrett
- Mick Bates
- Nick Bourne
- Rosemary Butler
- Alun Cairns
- Christine Chapman
- Cynog Dafis
- Jane Davidson
- Andrew Davies
- David Davies
- Geraint Davies
- Glyn Davies
- Jocelyn Davies
- Ron Davies
- Richard Edwards
- Sue Essex
- Delyth Evans
- Val Feld
- Michael German
- William Graham
- Janice Gregory
- John Griffiths
- Christine Gwyther
- Alison Halford
- Brian Hancock
- Jane Hutt
- Pauline Jarman
- Carwyn Jones
- Elin Jones
- Gareth Jones
- Helen Mary Jones
- Ieuan Wyn Jones
- Peter Law
- Huw Lewis
- David Lloyd
- David Melding
- Tom Middlehurst
- Jonathan Morgan
- Rhodri Morgan
- Lynne Neagle
- Alun Pugh
- Jenny Randerson
- Rod Richards
- Peter Rogers
- Janet Ryder
- Gwenda Thomas
- Owen John Thomas
- Rhodri Glyn Thomas
- Dafydd Wigley
- Kirsty Williams
- Phil Williams
Dadl Fer
Short Debate
Codi Lefel ein Sgiliau
Upgrading our Skills Base
I regret the fact that you allowed the last debate to run over, Deputy Presiding Officer, because it eats into opportunities for back benchers to speak, and I do not only mean myself—
Mae’n edifar gennyf eich bod wedi caniatáu i’r ddadl olaf redeg yn hwyr, Ddirprwy Lywydd, gan ei fod yn lleihau’r cyfleoedd i’r meincwyr cefn siarad, ac nid wyf yn golygu fi fy hun yn unig—
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 95
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 95
Order. You will get the full 30 minutes for your short debate.
Trefn. Fe gewch eich 30 munud llawn ar gyfer eich dadl fer.
I appreciate that, but many people have to leave after 12.30 p.m., including myself, and beginning the debate at a later time does not help.
Gwerthfawrogaf hynny, ond rhaid i lawer o bobl adael ar ôl 12.30 p.m., gan gynnwys fi fy hun, ac nid yw cychwyn y ddadl yn hwyrach yn helpu.
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 95
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 95
Order. Assembly business comes first and last. If someone does not want to be here, they are perfectly at liberty not to be here. However, everybody is here in the service of the Assembly. I will protect your time to ensure that you get 30 minutes. The fact that other Members may have spoken for too long must not be seen as a criticism of this Assembly. I did not think that they spoke for too long, and I hope that I will think the same of you.
Trefn. Daw busnes y Cynulliad yn gyntaf ac yn olaf. Os nad yw rhywun yn dymuno bod yma, mae ganddynt berffaith ryddid i beidio â bod yma. Fodd bynnag, mae pawb yma i wasanaethu’r Cynulliad. Diogelaf eich amser i sicrhau eich bod yn cael 30 munud. Ni ddylai’r ffaith bod Aelodau eraill wedi siarad yn rhy faith o bosibl gael ei weld fel beirniadaeth o’r Cynulliad hwn. Ni chredais iddynt siarad yn rhy faith, a gobeithiaf y teimlaf yr un peth amdanoch chi.
I will accept contributions from Mick Bates, Gareth Jones and Jonathan Morgan.
yn Saesneg Derbyniaf gyfraniadau gan Mick Bates, Gareth Jones a Jonathan Morgan.
Once upon a time there was a poor region in a poor country: a country that would, in days gone by, have been described as a third world country. The people of this region were not highly skilled, many of them could not read or write. There were not many jobs to be had, and the jobs that were available were mostly unskilled and poorly paid.
yn Saesneg Un tro yr oedd rhanbarth dlawd mewn gwlad dlawd: gwlad a fyddai’n cael ei disgrifio, yn y dyddiau a fu, fel gwlad yn y trydydd byd. Nid oedd pobl y rhanbarth hon yn dra medrus, ni allai llawer ohonynt ddarllen nac ysgrifennu. Nid oedd llawer o swyddi i’w cael, ac yr oedd y swyddi a oedd ar gael yn rhai heb sgiliau gan fwyaf gyda chyflogau gwael.
However, the government of that region, allied with the country’s national government, had an idea. They saw the future, and it was a technological one. Therefore, they created a national institute of information technology. They decided that they would pioneer computer education in this region. They developed a rigorous methodology for IT in the curriculum. They set up a computer-drome in the heart of the capital, with a huge software library and facilities for practical skills development and the exploration of new areas. They established a technology-based institute of art and design, building on the traditional textile skills of that region. They set up a national venture fund for software and IT industries, focusing on assisting small enterprises to achieve rapid growth rates and maintain a competitive edge.
yn Saesneg Fodd bynnag, cafodd llywodraeth y rhanbarth honno, mewn cynghrair â llywodraeth genedlaethol y wlad, syniad. Gwelsant y dyfodol, ac yr oedd yn ddyfodol technolegol. Felly, crëwyd sefydliad cenedlaethol technoleg gwybodaeth. Penderfynasant arloesi addysg gyfrifiadurol yn yr ardal hon. Datblygwyd methodoleg fanwl ar gyfer TG yn y cwricwlwm. Sefydlwyd canolfan gyfrifiadurol yng nghanol y brifddinas, gyda llyfrgell meddalwedd anferth a chyfleusterau i ddatblygu sgiliau ymarferol ac i archwilio meysydd newydd. Sefydlwyd sefydliad celf a chynllunio yn seiliedig ar dechnoleg, gan adeiladu ar sgiliau tecstilau traddodiadol y rhanbarth honno. Sefydlwyd cronfa menter genedlaethol ar gyfer diwydiannau meddalwedd a TG, gan ganolbwyntio ar gynorthwyo busnesau bach i gyflawni cyfraddau twf cyflym a chynnal mantais gystadleuol.
That was 15 years ago. The country was India, the state was Karnataka and the city was Bangalore. Today, the software industry is the fastest growing one in India, with Bangalore as the hub of development. IBM, Novell, Microsoft, Oracle, Hewlett-Packard and Digital have set up development centres in Bangalore. Government Ministers from around the globe visit Bangalore, including Patricia Hewitt from the UK Government, to try to poach their skilled workers because we are so short of people who are proficient in advanced IT skills.
yn Saesneg Digwyddodd hynny 15 mlynedd yn ôl. India oedd y wlad, Karnataka oedd y dalaith a Bangalore oedd y ddinas. Heddiw, y diwydiant meddalwedd yw’r diwydiant sydd yn tyfu gyflymaf yn India, a Bangalore yw canolbwynt y datblygiad. Sefydlodd IBM, Novell, Microsoft, Oracle, Hewlett-Packard a Digital ganolfannau datblygu ym Mangalore. Mae Gweinidogion llywodraethau ledled y byd yn ymweld â Bangalore, gan gynnwys Patricia Hewitt o Lywodraeth y DU, i geisio dwyn eu gweithwyr medrus gan ein bod mor brin o bobl fedrus â chanddynt uwch sgiliau TG.
Let us bring this story closer to home. I will not mention Ireland—I, for one, am tired of hearing about the lessons we can learn from our successful neighbour across the water. Let us briefly look at Scotland. Two months ago, there was a story in The Financial Times about Motorola, the US semiconductor and electronics company, which will set up a £20 million software design centre at the Alba Centre outside Edinburgh. The centre will employ around 550 highly skilled designers of advanced embedded software and integrated circuits. According to the article, Motorola had considered six possible sites worldwide before opting for Scotland. The Alba Centre campus was created three years ago by Scottish Enterprise, expressly to attract such high-skilled inward investment. Donald Dewar said that attracting companies like Motorola was the whole point of the Alba Centre project, and it worked.
yn Saesneg Gadewch inni ddod â’r stori hon yn nes adref. Ni soniaf am Iwerddon—yr wyf i, ymhlith eraill, wedi hen flino ar glywed am y gwersi y gallwn eu dysgu gan ein cymydog llwyddiannus ar draws y dwr. Gadewch inni edrych yn gyflym ar yr Alban. Ddau fis yn ôl, yr oedd stori yn The Financial Times am Motorola, y cwmni lled-ddargludydd ac electroneg o UDA, a fydd yn sefydlu canolfan cynllunio meddalwedd gwerth £20 miliwn yng Nghanolfan Alba y tu allan i Gaeredin. Bydd y ganolfan yn cyflogi tua 550 o gynllunwyr tra medrus ym maes meddalwedd mewnol uwch a chylchedau integredig. Yn ôl yr erthygl, ystyriodd Motorola chwe safle posibl ar draws y byd cyn dewis yr Alban. Crëwyd campws Canolfan Alba dair blynedd yn ôl gan Fenter yr Alban, yn unswydd er mwyn denu mewnfuddsoddiad tra medrus o’r fath. Dywedodd Donald Dewar mai union fwriad prosiect Canolfan Alba oedd denu cwmnïau fel Motorola, ac fe weithiodd.
Therefore, where are we in Wales with this skills business, and with IT skills in particular?
yn Saesneg Felly, ble yr ydym ni yng Nghymru o ran y busnes sgiliau hwn, ac o ran sgiliau TG yn benodol?
Ble yr ydym wedi cyrraedd yng Nghymru ar y mater canolog hwn o sgiliau?
in Welsh Where have we arrived in Wales on this central matter of skills?
Yn fuan ar ôl imi ddod yn Aelod o’r Cynulliad, cefais sgwrs gyda rhywun o’r Blaid Lafur yng Ngheredigion. Yr oedd ei gefndir mewn cwmnïau meddalwedd yn Llundain ac yr oedd ganddo syniad am godi lefel sgiliau technoleg gwybodaeth yng Nghymru.
in Welsh Soon after I became an Assembly Member, I had a conversation with someone from the Labour Party in Ceredigion. His background was in software companies in London and he had an idea about raising the level of information technology skills in Wales.
Cnewyllyn y syniad oedd datblygu canolfan sgiliau TG uwch i lenwi’r bwlch mawr a welai’r dyn profiadol hwn yn y ddarpariaeth sgiliau yng Nghymru. Ei ddadl oedd na fyddem byth yn denu’r cwmnïau technolegol mawr i Gymru heb fuddsoddiad mewn sgiliau TG arbenigol. Byddai canolfan o’r fath yn anfon neges glir i’r sector TG ynghylch ein huchelgais a’n difrifoldeb ynglyn â datblygu’r sector hwn. Y syniad oedd tynnu cwmni mawr i mewn yn bartner yn y prosiect, er enghraifft IBM, Intel neu Hewlett-Packard, ynghyd â’r sector cyhoeddus a’r prifysgolion i ddatblygu’r ganolfan.
in Welsh The nucleus of the idea was to develop an advanced IT skills centre to fill the huge gap that this experienced man saw in the skills provision in Wales. His argument was that we would never attract large technological companies to Wales without investing in specialist IT skills. Such a centre would send a clear message to the IT sector on our ambition and seriousness about developing this sector. The idea was to draw in a large company as a partner in the project, for example IBM, Intel or Hewlett-Packard, along with the public sector and the universities to develop the centre.
Yr oedd y syniad yn apelio ataf ac, wrth imi drafod sgiliau gyda phobl fusnes lwyddiannus, y diffyg sgiliau uwch yng Nghymru a godai yn aml iawn wrth drafod cynlluniau’r cwmni i ddatblygu ymhellach. Yr oeddwn yn hoffi’r syniad o sefydlu rhan o’r ganolfan sgiliau uwch hon rywle yng nghanolbarth Cymru, fel rhan o rwydwaith ehangach. Byddai hefyd yn ffordd o ddenu swyddi i’r ardaloedd gwledig ac o gadw pobl ifanc dalentog yn yr ardaloedd hynny.
in Welsh The idea appealed to me and, as I discussed skills with successful business people, the lack of advanced skills in Wales came up frequently in discussing the company’s plans to develop further. I liked the idea of establishing part of this centre for advanced skills somewhere in mid Wales, as part of a more extensive network. It would also be a way of attracting jobs to rural areas and of keeping talented young people in those areas.
Ysgrifennais bapur byr ar y syniad gan alw’r prosiect yn ‘Canolfan Cenedlaethol ar gyfer Sgiliau TG Uwch’. Hyd yn hyn, nid yw’r syniad wedi cydio. Pam felly?
in Welsh I wrote a short paper on the idea, calling the project ‘the National Centre for Advanced IT Skills’. So far, the idea has not caught on. Why?
Mae’n bosibl fod nifer o wendidau yn y cynllun ac na fyddai’n gweithio. Ymateb un cwmni o ymgynghorwyr oedd nad oeddwn wedi gwneud fy ngwaith cartref ac nad oedd digon o ddadansoddi y tu ôl i’r cynnig. Digon teg. Fodd bynnag, yr hyn sydd yn fy mhoeni yw nad oes neb wedi cynnig unrhyw beth gwell, â’r un lefel o uchelgais a gweledigaeth. Felly, a ydym yn anelu’n ddigon uchel yng Nghymru? A ydym yn edrych yn ddigon pell i’r dyfodol?
in Welsh It is possible that there were many weaknesses in the plan and that it would not work. The response of one company of consultants was that I had not done my homework and that there was insufficient analysis behind the proposal. Fair enough. However, I am concerned that no-one has proposed anything better, with the same level of ambition and vision. Therefore, are we aiming high enough in Wales? Are we looking far enough into the future?
Are we asking the right questions on upgrading our skills base? Not what skills do we need today, but what skills will Wales need in 10 years’ time? When will we start to focus on the sector that we should be targeting for special support and growth? Surely, we should be doing more now to grow our creative industries—IT is just one example—and to develop the requisite skills to feed that sector.
yn Saesneg A ydym yn gofyn y cwestiynau iawn am uwchraddio ein sgiliau? Nid pa sgiliau sydd arnom eu hangen heddiw, ond pa sgiliau fydd ar Gymru eu hangen ymhen 10 mlynedd? Pryd y dechreuwn ganolbwyntio ar y sector y dylem fod yn ei thargedu o ran cefnogaeth a thwf arbennig? Oni ddylem fod yn gwneud rhagor yn awr i ehangu ein diwydiannau creadigol—un enghraifft yn unig yw TG—ac i ddatblygu’r sgiliau angenrheidiol i fwydo’r sector hwnnw?
I was a political speechwriter for almost three years. I tired of repeating the same aspirational slogans about the need to build a high-wage, high-skill, high-value economy. The politicians who delivered those speeches must have been even more tired of saying the same old lines year after year, with no sense of progress towards that distant goal.
yn Saesneg Yr oeddwn yn ysgrifennwr areithiau gwleidyddol am bron i dair blynedd. Blinais ar ailadrodd yr un sloganau uchelgeisiol ynghylch yr angen i adeiladu economi â chyflogau uchel, sgiliau uchel a gwerth uchel. Rhaid bod y gwleidyddion a gyflwynodd yr areithiau hynny wedi blino’n fwy hyd yn oed ar orfod dweud yr un hen linellau flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn, heb unrhyw ymdeimlad o gynnydd tuag at y nod pellennig hwnnw.
When do those lines and slogans stop being aspirations and start becoming a reality in Wales? Last night I read the report of the Wales skills taskforce. It is a good, sound, report. Its key finding is:
yn Saesneg Pryd mae’r llinellau a’r sloganau hynny yn peidio â bod yn ddyheadau ac yn dechrau bod yn realiti yng Nghymru? Neithiwr darllenais adroddiad tasglu sgiliau Cymru. Mae’n adroddiad da, cadarn. Ei ganfyddiad allweddol yw:
‘A sustained effort is needed to improve Wales’s performance on skills development.’
yn Saesneg ‘Mae angen ymdrech gynaliadwy i wella perfformiad Cymru o ran datblygu sgiliau.’
It goes on to list all the familiar indicators, which show the extent to which Wales is lagging behind the rest of the UK, let alone the rest of the developed world, in terms of skills and qualifications.
yn Saesneg  ymlaen i restru’r holl ddangosyddion cyfarwydd, sydd yn dangos i ba raddau y mae Cymru yn llusgo ar ôl gweddill y DU, heb sôn am weddill y byd datblygedig, o ran sgiliau a chymwysterau.
How often must we read this all too familiar message about what must be done? When will we read reports that note, ‘Wales has made massive progress in upgrading its skills base’? Maybe a national centre for advanced IT skills is not the answer. It maybe part of the answer. However, we have to aim high, as they did 15 years ago in Bangalore, if we are to make a real difference in this area.
yn Saesneg Pa mor aml y mae’n rhaid inni ddarllen y neges gyfarwydd hon am yr hyn sydd yn rhaid ei wneud? Pryd byddwn yn darllen adroddiadau sydd yn nodi, ‘Gwnaeth Cymru gynnydd aruthrol wrth uwchraddio ei chronfa sgiliau’? Efallai nad canolfan genedlaethol ar gyfer sgiliau TG uwch yw’r ateb. Gall fod yn rhan o’r ateb. Fodd bynnag, rhaid inni anelu’n uchel, fel y gwnaethant 15 mlynedd yn ôl ym Mangalore, os ydym am wneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol yn y maes hwn.
Let us be ambitious, visionary and uncompromising in our determination to make a difference, because I do not want to see another politician standing here, or in the new building in five years’ time, repeating what I am saying now about the vital importance of upgrading our skills base.
yn Saesneg Gadewch inni fod yn uchelgeisiol, yn weledigaethol ac yn ddigyfaddawd yn ein penderfyniad i wneud gwahaniaeth, oherwydd nid wyf am weld gwleidydd arall yn sefyll yma, neu yn yr adeilad newydd ymhen pum mlynedd, yn ailadrodd yr hyn a ddywedaf yn awr am bwysigrwydd hanfodol uwchraddio ein cronfa sgiliau.
I would like to consider a particular aspect of upgrading our skills that I think is achievable in Wales. In November last year the Assembly discussed the information age and the skills we will need to take advantage of it. We heard from the RNIB that 75 per cent of blind and partially sighted people in the UK are unemployed. We also heard from them that new technology and appropriate skills training can open doors to people with visual impairment into the world of work. New technology that turns letters on computer screens into sound or Braille does this. People with visual impairment can play a full part and increase their skills through these technological developments. Last week Assembly Members received a pack from the RNID considering the possibilities of new digital technology for people with hearing impairment. Such technology and the skills to use it fully could revolutionise the lives of deaf people in Wales. As a largely visual medium, the possibilities of the internet for deaf people are extensive. The RNID is calling for the provision of relevant training and unmetered internet access for deaf people. We should look at these factors because this is something the Assembly could achieve to upgrade our skills base.
Hoffwn ystyried agwedd benodol ar uwchraddio ein sgiliau y credaf y gellir ei chyflawni yng Nghymru. Yn Nhachwedd y llynedd trafododd y Cynulliad yr oes wybodaeth a’r sgiliau y bydd eu hangen arnom i fanteisio arni. Clywsom gan Sefydliad Cenedlaethol Brenhinol y Deillion fod 75 y cant o bobl ddall neu rannol ddall yn y DU yn ddi-waith. Clywsom ganddynt hefyd y gall technoleg newydd a hyfforddiant sgiliau priodol agor y drysau ar gyfer pobl sydd â nam ar eu golwg i fyd gwaith. Gwneir hyn gan dechnoleg newydd sydd yn troi llythrennau ar sgrîn cyfrifiadur yn swn neu’n Braille. Gall pobl â nam ar eu golwg chwarae rhan lawn a chynyddu eu sgiliau drwy’r datblygiadau technolegol hyn. Yr wythnos diwethaf derbyniodd Aelodau’r Cynulliad becyn gan Sefydliad Cenedlaethol Brenhinol Pobl Fyddar yn ystyried posibiliadau technoleg digidol newydd i bobl â nam ar eu clyw. Gallai technoleg o’r fath a’r sgiliau i’w defnyddio’n llawn chwyldroi bywydau pobl fyddar yng Nghymru. Fel cyfrwng gweledol i raddau helaeth, mae posibiliadau’r rhyngrwyd ar gyfer pobl fyddar yn helaeth. Geilw Sefydliad Cenedlaethol Brenhinol Pobl Fyddar am ddarparu hyfforddiant perthnasol a mynediad ar y rhyngrwyd i bobl fyddar. Dylem edrych ar y ffactorau hyn gan ei fod yn rhywbeth y gallai’r Cynulliad ei gyflawni i uwchraddio ein sgiliau.
Hoffwn ddiolch i Delyth am ganiatáu imi gyfrannu i’r ddadl. Diolch iddi am ddewis pwnc sydd o bwys allweddol i ni yng Nghymru. Hoffwn gydnabod ei sylwadau a diffuantrwydd ei neges.
I thank Delyth for allowing me to contribute to the debate. I also thank her for choosing a subject that is of crucial importance to us in Wales. I acknowledge her comments and the sincerity of her message.
Yr oedd darllen adroddiad Sgiliau Dyfodol Cymru yn fater o dristwch a syndod i bob un ohonom sydd yn ymwneud ag addysg, hyfforddiant a chyflogaeth yng Nghymru. Mae darganfyddiadau a chasgliadau’r adroddiad yn ysgubol eu beirniadaeth ar wendidau ein gweithlu cyn belled ag y mae lefelau sgiliau yn y cwestiwn. Yr oedd hi’n anodd derbyn ein bod ni yng Nghymru ymhell y tu ôl i wledydd eraill y byd, a bod lefelau sgiliau ein pobl yn eu gwneud yn anghymwys i ymgymryd â swyddi technoleg fodern.
Reading the Future Skills Wales report was a matter of sadness and surprise to all of us involved in education, training and employment in Wales. The report’s findings and conclusions are extremely critical of the weaknesses of our workforce in terms of skills levels. It was difficult to accept that we in Wales are far behind other countries of the world, and that our people’s skills levels make them unfit to undertake modern technology jobs.
Hoffwn wneud dau sylw. Mae’r datblygiadau diweddaraf a ddaeth yn sgîl yr adroddiad gan Sgiliau Dyfodol Cymru i’w croesawu gan eu bod yn arwydd ein bod bellach yn ymwybodol, o leiaf, o’n ffaeleddau yn y maes ac o’r angen i weithredu a gwella’r sefyllfa. Mae a wnelo sefydlu’r fforwm ymchwil Sgiliau Dyfodol Cymru, y Cyngor Cenedlaethol dros Addysg a Hyfforddiant, adroddiad ac argymhellion tasglu sgiliau Cymru a sefydlu uned sgiliau’r dyfodol â datblygu hyfforddiant sgiliau yn y gweithle. Mae’r rhain i gyd yn arwyddion pendant o ddeffroad ac ymrwymiad i wella a chodi lefelau ein sgiliau.
I want to make two points. The most recent developments following the Future Skills Wales report are to be welcomed because they signify that we are at least aware now of our deficiencies in this area and of the need to act to improve the situation. The establishment of the research forum Future Skills Wales, the National Council for Education and Training, the report and recommendations of the Wales skills taskforce and establishing the future skills unit are all concerned with developing skills training in the workplace. These are all definite signs of an awakening and a commitment to improving and raising our skills levels.
Yr her yn hyn oll, yn enwedig o ystyried y buddsoddiad ariannol gan y Cynulliad, fydd sicrhau bod cydgysylltu a chydweithio effeithiol yn digwydd. Mawr obeithiaf na faglwn ein gilydd drwy ddyblygu ymdrechion a blaengareddau. Bydd yn rhaid i’r Cynulliad ddangos rheolaeth ac arweiniad clir yn hyn.
The challenge in all this, especially given the financial investment by the Assembly, will be to ensure that there is effective co-ordination and co-operation. I greatly hope that we will not trip each other up by duplicating efforts and initiatives. The Assembly must show control and clear leadership in this.
Mae dadl Delyth yn amserol o ystyried yr holl sylw a roddwyd ddoe i ganlyniadau TGAU a Safon Uwch yn ein hysgolion. Yr hyn sydd yn hynod o drawiadol ac yn crisialu’r broblem yw nad oedd cyfeiriad at na chydnabyddiaeth o gyraeddiadau disgyblion yn y maes galwedigaethol, sef y cymhwyster galwedigaethol cenedlaethol cyffredinol. Nid oedd cyfeiriad atynt ac ni chynhwyswyd hwy yn y canlyniadau. Mae hynny’n arwydd o’r ffordd bell sydd gennym i fynd i sicrhau parch cyfartal i gyraeddiadau academaidd a galwedigaethol. Dyna pam fod datganiad y Gweinidog dros Gyllid, Llywodraeth Leol a Chymunedau ynghylch £600,000 o fuddsoddiad y flwyddyn nesaf i sefydlu cynllun peilot bagloriaeth Gymreig mor dderbyniol a phell-gyrhaeddol.
Delyth’s debate is timely when one considers all the attention that was given yesterday to GCSE and A-level results in our schools. What is remarkably striking and crystallises the problem is that there was no reference to or acknowledgement of pupils’ achievements in the vocational area, that is, the general national vocational qualification. There was no reference to them and they were not included in the results. That is an indication of the long way that we have to go to ensure equal respect for academic and vocational qualifications. That is why the statement by the Minister for Finance, Local Government and Communities regarding the investment of £600,000 next year to establish a pilot scheme for the Welsh baccalaureate is so welcome and far-reaching.
Bydd y cymhwyster hwn yn pontio’r gagendor sydd yn bodoli ar hyn o bryd rhwng yr elfennau academaidd a galwedigaethol. Bydd yn tanlinellu nid yn unig bwysigrwydd gwybodaeth a deallusrwydd ond hefyd y sgiliau sydd eu hangen i gymhwyso’r elfennau hynny yn y meysydd galwedigaethol.
This qualification will bridge the current gap between the academic and vocational elements. It will underline not only the importance of knowledge and understanding but also the skills needed to apply those elements in vocational areas.
Bydd sefydlu’r fagloriaeth yn rhoi Cymru ar y blaen ym myd addysg a hyfforddiant ôl-16. Yr wyf yn hyderus y bydd y cymhwyster a’i fframwaith yn cyfrannu’n helaeth at graidd yr her sydd ymhlyg yn ein dadl heddiw, sef codi lefel sgiliau ein pobl yng Nghymru.
The establishment of the baccalaureate will place Wales at the forefront of the world of post-16 education. I am confident that the qualification and its framework will contribute substantially to the core of the challenge that is implicit in today’s debate, namely to raise the skills level of the people of Wales.
Like other speakers, I thank Delyth for bringing this subject to the agenda today. I will focus on three points. First, the information and communications technology revolution to which Delyth alluded. The Assembly has a framework, a starting point. The work that has been undertaken by members of the Pre-16 Education Committee is by no means a definitive piece of work. However, it is a starting point for providing the strategy that will ensure that we get the technology into the schools and that we get the skills to the young people and teachers who need them. When one travels around schools in the constituency and further afield, one cannot help but notice the poor state of technological equipment. Some schools are still using BBC computers, which I remember from my A-level days, about seven years ago. The difference that exists between some schools in certain areas in levels of technology is amazing. It is all very well to say that you want to provide e-mail addresses to every pupil in schools throughout Wales, but unless they have the technology to use those e-mail addresses and the ability to use e-mail and the internet, there is little point in giving that to students.
Fel y siaradwyr eraill, hoffwn ddiolch i Delyth am roi’r pwnc hwn ar yr agenda heddiw. Canolbwyntiaf ar dri phwynt. Yn gyntaf, y chwyldro technoleg gwybodaeth a chyfathrebu y cyfeiriodd Delyth ato. Mae gan y Cynulliad fframwaith, sydd yn fan cychwyn. Nid yw’r gwaith a gyflawnodd aelodau’r Pwyllgor Addysg Cyn 16 yn ddarn o waith diffiniol ar unrhyw gyfrif. Fodd bynnag, mae’n fan cychwyn ar gyfer darparu’r strategaeth a fydd yn sicrhau ein bod yn cael y dechnoleg i mewn i’r ysgolion a rhoi’r sgiliau i’r bobl ifanc a’r athrawon sydd eu hangen. Wrth deithio o gwmpas ysgolion yn yr etholaeth a thu hwnt, ni ellir ond sylwi ar gyflwr gwael cyfarpar technolegol. Mae rhai ysgolion yn dal i ddefnyddio cyfrifiaduron BBC, a gofiaf o’r adeg pan oeddwn i’n astudio ar gyfer fy Safon Uwch, tua saith mlynedd yn ôl. Mae’r gwahaniaeth sydd yn bodoli rhwng rhai ysgolion mewn rhai ardaloedd o ran lefel technoleg yn rhyfeddol. Digon hawdd dweud eich bod am ddarparu cyfeiriad e-bost i bob disgybl mewn ysgolion ledled Cymru, ond oni fydd ganddynt y dechnoleg i ddefnyddio’r cyfeiriadau e-bost hynny a’r gallu i ddefnyddio’r e-bost a’r rhyngrwyd, nid oes llawer o bwynt rhoi hynny i fyfyrwyr.
ICT provision is fragmented across Wales. There have been some interesting examples, at local education authority level, of centres of excellence and pioneering projects, but that has not been the case across the nation. We need to be ambitious and we need a co-ordinated strategy to ensure that ICT skills are raised among our young people. The second skill that we need to address quickly is that related to modern foreign languages. It is disgraceful that, as part of the European Union, we have one of the worst records in teaching—and therefore students’ learning—modern foreign languages. If we expect our young people to work elsewhere in the European Union, further afield than Wales, we need to equip them with the language skills that they would be expected to use. As one of those positive nations within the European Union, we should be doing all possible to equip our young people with this particular skill. In recent decades, we have been doing our young people a disservice, because there have been opportunities for people to go to live and work on the mainland of Europe, but have not been able to do so because of this lack of skill in modern foreign languages.
Mae’r ddarpariaeth TGCh yn dameidiog ledled Cymru. Cafwyd rhai enghreifftiau diddorol, ar lefel awdurdod addysg lleol, o ganolfannau rhagoriaeth a phrosiectau arloesol, ond ni ddigwyddodd hynny ledled y wlad. Rhaid inni fod yn uchelgeisiol ac mae angen strategaeth gydlynus arnom i sicrhau y cynyddir sgiliau TGCh ymhlith ein pobl ifanc. Yr ail sgil sydd angen inni roi sylw iddi ar fyrder yw’r un sydd yn ymwneud ag ieithoedd tramor modern. Mae’n warthus, fel rhan o’r Undeb Ewropeaidd, bod gennym yr hanes o fod yn un o’r gwaethaf am addysgu—ac felly myfyrwyr yn dysgu—ieithoedd tramor modern. Os disgwyliwn i’n pobl ifanc weithio mewn mannau eraill yn yr Undeb Ewropeaidd, y tu hwnt i Gymru, mae angen inni roi’r sgiliau ieithyddol iddynt y disgwylid iddynt eu defnyddio. Fel un o’r gwledydd positif hynny o fewn yr Undeb Ewropeaidd, dylem fod yn gwneud popeth o fewn ein gallu i roi’r sgil benodol hon i’n pobl ifanc. Yn ystod y degawdau diwethaf, gwnaethom dro gwael â’n pobl ifanc, oherwydd cafwyd cyfleoedd i bobl fynd i fyw a gweithio ar dir mawr Ewrop, ond ni allasant wneud hynny oherwydd y diffyg sgil hwn o ran ieithoedd tramor modern.
My third point relates to Gareth Jones’s comments about the baccalaureate. We must not, in recognising vocational qualifications, do anything that dumbs down academic excellence in schools. Bringing in a baccalaureate would not do anything to raise skills levels among our high achievers.
Mae fy nhrydydd pwynt yn berthnasol i sylwadau Gareth Jones ynglyn â’r fagloriaeth. Rhaid inni beidio, wrth gydnabod cymwysterau galwedigaethol, â gwneud unrhywbeth sydd yn glasdwreiddio rhagoriaeth academaidd mewn ysgolion. Ni fyddai cyflwyno bagloriaeth yn gwneud unrhyw beth i godi lefelau sgiliau ymhlith ein cyflawnwyr uchel.
I know that you want to address those at the bottom end of the scale, and we must do that, but we must also ensure academic excellence for those who go on to our excellent universities and take up professional posts, whether in university or industry, throughout Wales. We must not dumb down and thus diminish our students’ ability to succeed and compete at university level. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate.
Gwn eich bod am roi sylw i’r rheini ar waelod y raddfa, a rhaid inni wneud hynny, ond rhaid inni hefyd sicrhau rhagoriaeth academaidd i’r rheini a aiff ymlaen i’n prifysgolion rhagorol ac sydd yn derbyn swyddi proffesiynol, pa un ai mewn prifysgol neu mewn diwydiant, ledled Cymru. Rhaid inni beidio â glastwreiddio ac felly leihau gallu ein myfyrwyr i lwyddo a chystadlu ar lefel prifysgol. Croesawaf y cyfle i gyfrannu at y ddadl hon.
Alun Pugh a gododd—
Alun Pugh rose—
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 103
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 103
You cannot intervene now, Alun, though you may be able to do so during the Minister’s speech, if she allows it.
Ni chewch ymyrryd yn awr, Alun, er y gallwch wneud hynny yn ystod araith y Gweinidog , os caniatâ hynny.
Jane Davidson The Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning spoken in English p. 103
Jane Davidson Y Gweinidog dros Addysg a Dysgu Gydol Oes siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 103
Thank you, Delyth, for bringing this debate before us today. It is a timely debate, because we are in the middle of the consultation on the skills taskforce’s report. It would be useful for today’s contributions to be fed into that consultation, so that those who will consider its results, which will include the members of the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee, can consider them. I am sure that the members of the Economic Development Committee will also consider the consultation, in connection with the national economic development strategy.
Diolch, Delyth, am gyflwyno’r ddadl hon ger ein bron heddiw. Mae’n ddadl amserol, gan ein bod yng nghanol yr ymgynghoriad ar adroddiad y tasglu sgiliau. Byddai’n ddefnyddiol bwydo cyfraniadau heddiw i’r ymgynghoriad hwnnw, fel y gall y rheini a ystyria ei ganlyniadau, a fydd yn cynnwys aelodau’r Pwyllgor Addysg a Dysgu Gydol Oes, eu hystyried. Yr wyf yn siwr yr ystyria aelodau’r Pwyllgor Datblygu Economaidd yr ymgynghoriad hefyd, mewn cysylltiad â’r strategaeth datblygu economaidd genedlaethol.
If Wales is to have any chance of raising its gross domestic product per capita to the UK level, improving our levels of economic activity and increasing incomes and personal prosperity, we must increase our skills levels. A similar discussion took place in Westminster yesterday and in the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee meeting. So it is a timely issue. It is worth reminding Members that we are taking forward the ground-breaking Future Skills Wales project. As an Assembly, we think that research is essential to develop effective policies. The project has given us a wealth of data, but we are taking that further and drilling down into particular sectors. Future Skills Wales recently published 10 such sectoral studies. Those include reports on agriculture and farm enterprise, tourism and the media and cultural industries as well as manufacturing sectors. We have also established the Wales skills unit, to further develop the skills research programme.
Os yw Cymru i gael unrhyw gyfle i godi ei chynnyrch mewnwladol crynswyth y pen i lefel y DU, gwella ein lefelau o weithgaredd economaidd a chynyddu incwm a ffyniant personol, rhaid inni gynyddu ein lefelau sgiliau. Cafwyd trafodaeth debyg yn San Steffan ddoe ac yng nghyfarfod y Pwyllgor Addysg a Dysgu Gydol Oes. Felly mae’n fater amserol. Mae’n werth atgoffa Aelodau ein bod yn bwrw ymlaen â phrosiect Sgiliau Dyfodol Cymru sydd yn torri tir newydd. Fel Cynulliad, credwn fod ymchwil yn hanfodol i ddatblygu polisïau effeithiol. Rhoddodd y prosiect gyfoeth o ddata inni, ond awn â hynny ymhellach gan durio i mewn i rai sectorau penodol. Cyhoeddodd Sgiliau Dyfodol Cymru 10 astudiaeth sectoraidd o’r fath yn ddiweddar. Mae’r rheini yn cynnwys adroddiadau am amaethyddiaeth a menter ffermydd, twristiaeth a’r cyfryngau a diwydiannau diwylliannol yn ogystal â sectorau gweithgynhyrchu. Sefydlwyd uned sgiliau Cymru hefyd, er mwyn datblygu’r rhaglen ymchwil sgiliau ymhellach.
The skills taskforce, under Brian Connolly, is giving a strategic dimension to Future Skills Wales’s findings. Brian Connolly and his team presented the report to us in the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee meeting yesterday. It was interesting that, when I asked them what they considered to be the three key issues for us to consider in taking this consultation forward, they said that the first was the entitlement to free education and training provision at national vocational qualification level 3 for young people and adults. That is ambitious. You are all right to suggest that we need to set ambitious targets. There will be a large financial cost to that, but it is important that we look at remedying what is a major problem in terms of our skills base.
Rhydd y tasglu sgiliau, o dan Brian Connolly, ddimensiwn strategol i ganfyddiadau Sgiliau Dyfodol Cymru. Cyflwynodd Brian Connolly a’i dîm yr adroddiad inni yng nghyfarfod y Pwyllgor Addysg a Dysgu Gydol Oes ddoe. Yr oedd yn ddiddorol, pan ofynnais iddynt beth yr ystyrient oedd y tri mater allweddol inni eu hystyried wrth ddatblygu’r ymgynghoriad hwn ymhellach, dywedasant mai’r cyntaf oedd yr hawl i addysg am ddim a darpariaeth hyfforddiant cymhwyster galwedigaethol cenedlaethol lefel 3 i bobl ifanc ac oedolion. Mae hynny’n uchelgeisiol. Yr ydych i gyd yn iawn i awgrymu bod angen inni osod targedau uchelgeisiol. Bydd cost ariannol hynny yn fawr, ond mae’n bwysig inni edrych ar unioni’r hyn sydd yn broblem sylweddol o ran ein sgiliau.
Secondly, the skills taskforce identified the need for better management support, whether through a management centre or by other means. The anecdotal evidence is that 80 per cent of people believe in management training, but only 20 per cent of managers feel that they need such training. That tells us something about how people feel about training. The third issue was learning maintenance allowances. We propose to allocate £6.5 million in 2002 and £11.5 million in 2003 to help 16 to 18-year-olds to stay in education.
Yn ail, nododd y tasglu sgiliau yr angen am gymorth rheoli gwell, pa un ai drwy ganolfan reoli neu drwy ryw ddull arall. Y dystiolaeth anecdotaidd yw bod 80 y cant o bobl yn credu mewn hyfforddi rheolwyr, ond dim ond 20 y cant o’r rheolwyr sydd yn teimlo bod angen hyfforddiant o’r fath arnynt. Dywed hynny rywbeth wrthym am sut y teimla pobl ynghylch hyfforddiant. Y trydydd mater oedd lwfansau cynhaliaeth dysgu. Bwriadwn ddyrannu £6.5 miliwn yn 2002 ac £11.5 miliwn yn 2003 i helpu’r rhai rhwng 16 a 18 mlwydd oed i aros mewn addysg.
We must remember that quick fixes are not possible. It takes time to acquire skills. Our job is to help Wales through developing the right infrastructure for delivery. I accept the point about ensuring that duplication does not occur. Good progress is being made in establishing the new National Council for Education and Training in Wales and I am confident that it will hit the ground running next April. The council, which will be the biggest Assembly sponsored public body, will be responsible for improving skills for the over 16s. Its community consortia will make a valuable contribution at local level.
Rhaid inni gofio nad yw darpariaethau brys yn bosibl. Cymer amser i gaffael sgiliau. Ein swyddogaeth yw helpu Cymru drwy ddatblygu’r isadeiladedd cywir i gyflawni hyn. Derbyniaf y pwynt ynghylch sicrhau nad yw dyblygu’n digwydd. Gwneir cynnydd da drwy sefydlu’r corff newydd Cyngor Cenedlaethol Cymru dros Addysg a Hyfforddiant ac yr wyf yn hyderus y bydd yn dechrau ar ei waith fis Ebrill nesaf. Bydd y cyngor, sef y corff cyhoeddus mwyaf a noddir gan y Cynulliad, yn gyfrifol am wella sgiliau’r rhai dros 16 oed. Bydd ei gonsortia cymunedol yn gwneud cyfraniad gwerthfawr ar lefel leol.
We have already taken action on one issue in advance of the skills taskforce’s major recommendations, because employers in Wales were crying out for a measure to enable those over the age of 24 to have work-based training. We announced the entirely new, Wales-specific, modern skills diploma for adults, with an Assembly budget provision of nearly £10 million over the next three years.
Yr ydym eisoes wedi gweithredu ar un mater rhag blaen i brif argymhellion y tasglu sgiliau, am fod cyflogwyr yng Nghymru yn gweiddi am fesur i alluogi’r rheini dros 24 oed gael hyfforddiant yn y gwaith. Cyhoeddwyd y diploma sgiliau modern hollol newydd, yn benodol i Gymru, ar gyfer oedolion, gyda darpariaeth yng nghyllideb y Cynulliad o bron i £10 miliwn dros y tair blynedd nesaf.
We will begin to launch pilot schemes next April. This is a radical departure from existing programmes, and I am confident that it will help to give Wales a competitive edge. I have also announced a new skills development fund of £500,000 to support innovative projects put forward by a range of partner bodies and employers. The suggestion about a national IT learning centre could well be the type of project that would be eligible for that sort of funding.
Byddwn yn cychwyn ar gynlluniau peilot fis Ebrill nesaf. Mae hyn yn newid sylfaenol o raglenni presennol, ac yr wyf yn hyderus y bydd yn helpu i roi mantais gystadleuol i Gymru. Cyhoeddais hefyd gronfa datblygu sgiliau newydd o £500,000 i gynorthwyo prosiectau arloesol a gynigiwyd gan ystod o gyrff partneriaid a chyflogwyr. Gallai’r awgrym am ganolfan dysgu TG genedlaethol fod y math o brosiect a fyddai’n gymwys am y math hwnnw o gyllid.
We are also undertaking other work in terms of developing a basic skills strategy for Wales: introducing new key skills qualifications in schools, colleges and vocational routes, and providing £16 million for ICT facilities. I welcome Jonathan’s contribution, which builds on work that he and Huw Lewis took forward in the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee. Members will be aware that, yesterday, Edwina Hart announced an extra £700,000 for the major agenda for expanding ICT in schools. We are also working with lottery-based provision. A huge amount of money has been invested in training activities based around ICT learning centres. This is a big, important agenda for Wales, which is also relevant to the work of the Economic Development Committee.
Yr ydym hefyd yn ymgymryd â gwaith arall o ran datblygu strategaeth sgiliau sylfaenol ar gyfer Cymru: cyflwyno cymwysterau sgiliau allweddol newydd mewn ysgolion, colegau a llwybrau galwedigaethol, a darparu £16 miliwn ar gyfer adnoddau TGCh. Croesawaf gyfraniad Jonathan, sydd yn adeiladu ar waith a ddatblygodd ef a Huw Lewis yn y Pwyllgor Addysg a Dysgu Gydol Oes. Bydd Aelodau yn ymwybodol i Edwina Hart, ddoe, gyhoeddi £700,000 yn ychwanegol ar gyfer yr agenda fawr o ehangu TGCh mewn ysgolion. Yr ydym hefyd yn gweithio gyda darpariaeth y loteri. Buddsoddwyd swm anferthol o arian mewn gweithgareddau hyfforddi sydd yn seiliedig ar ganolfannau dysgu TGCh. Mae hon yn agenda bwysig, fawr i Gymru, sydd hefyd yn berthnasol i waith y Pwyllgor Datblygu Economaidd.
We are reviewing work-based learning for adults, and are working closely with the Employment Service on New Deal issues, particularly in considering whether we can access European structural funds, for example by extending the skills development element of the programme. It is important that we consider how we can use Objective 1 money, which is directly targeted at a poor skills base to try to increase those opportunities.
Yr ydym yn adolygu dysgu yn y gwaith ar gyfer oedolion, ac yn gweithio’n agos gyda’r Gwasanaeth Cyflogi ar faterion y Fargen Newydd, yn arbennig wrth ystyried a allwn gael mynediad i gronfeydd strwythurol Ewropeaidd, er enghraifft drwy ymestyn elfen datblygu sgiliau y rhaglen. Mae’n bwysig inni ystyried sut y gallwn ddefnyddio arian Amcan 1, a dargedwyd yn uniongyrchol at y sylfaen sgiliau gwael i geisio cynyddu’r cyfleoedd hynny.
Mick rightly made the point about ensuring that we use technology to promote equal opportunities in access to learning and skills development. It is fascinating to think of the opportunities that new technology now offers people with visual or hearing impairments, which were not available in the past. The University for Industry and the Digital College gave an interesting presentation to the Committee yesterday, which displayed the new ways of learning using new technology and television that we should harness fully in the skills debate.
Roedd Mick yn llygad ei le pan wnaeth y pwynt ynglyn â sicrhau y defnyddiwn dechnoleg i hyrwyddo cyfleoedd cyfartal wrth gael mynediad i ddysgu a datblygu sgiliau. Mae’n ddiddorol iawn meddwl am y cyfleoedd y cynigia’r dechnoleg newydd erbyn hyn i bobl â nam ar eu golwg neu ar eu clyw, nad oeddynt ar gael yn y gorffennol. Gwnaethpwyd cyflwyniad diddorol i’r Pwyllgor ddoe gan y Brifysgol i Ddiwydiant a’r Coleg Digidol, a ddangosodd y ffyrdd newydd o ddysgu drwy ddefnyddio’r dechnoleg newydd a theledu y dylem eu defnyddio’n llawn yn y ddadl sgiliau.
I welcome new ideas and will consider carefully the points raised in this debate. We will ensure that a copy of the record of this debate is sent to Brian Connolly. We are already working in some areas that we have identified as Wales-specific areas that need action. It is important that speechwriters of the future are not the only ones looking to create high-income viable jobs for the future—we must not merely talk about it. I do not want to be another politician standing here in five years’ time saying the same things. We have a positive agenda, to which I know that all Members are signed up. I thank you all for your contributions today.
Croesawaf syniadau newydd ac ystyriaf yn ofalus y pwyntiau a godwyd yn y ddadl hon. Sicrhawn yr anfonir copi o gofnod y ddadl hon at Brian Connolly. Yr ydym eisoes yn gweithio mewn rhai meysydd a nodwyd fel meysydd penodedig i Gymru y mae angen gweithredu arnynt. Mae’n bwysig nad ysgrifenwyr areithiau’r dyfodol yw’r unig rai sydd yn ceisio creu swyddi ymarferol incwm uchel ar gyfer y dyfodol—rhaid inni roi’r gorau i siarad am y peth yn unig. Nid wyf yn dymuno bod yn wleidydd arall yn sefyll yma ymhen pum mlynedd yn dweud yr un pethau. Mae gennym agenda bwysig, a gwn fod yr holl Aelodau yn ymrwymedig iddi. Diolchaf ichi oll am eich cyfraniadau heddiw.
Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 12.42 p.m.
The session ended at 12.42 p.m.