Cynulliad Cenedlaethol CymruNational Assembly for Wales · Cyfarfod llawnPlenary sitting
Dydd Iau 13 Mehefin 2002
Thursday 13 June 2002
CynnwysContents
- 3Cwestiynau i’r Gweinidog dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau CymdeithasolQuestions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
- 3Comisiwn Gwasanaethau Iechyd Arbenigol ar gyfer Cymru (Corff i Ddisodli)Specialised Health Services Commission for Wales (Replacement Body)
- 4Meddygon TeuluGeneral Practitioners
- 6Ymwybyddiaeth o ClamydiaAwareness of Chlamydia
- 8Targedau Newydd yn Is-adran y GweinidogNew Targets within the Minister’s Division
- 9Ysbyty Cymunedol Newydd yn Ninbych-y-pysgodNew Community Hospital in Tenby
- 10Gwasanaeth Ambiwlans (Ardal Awdurdod Iechyd Dyfed Powys)Ambulance Service (Dyfed Powys Health Authority Area)
- 11Targedau Amseroedd ArosWaiting Time Targets
- 13Cwestiynau i’r Gweinidog dros Addysg a Dysgu Gydol OesQuestions to the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning
- 13Prifysgol Cymru (Adroddiad Syr David Williams)University of Wales (Sir David Williams’s report)
- 14Addysg a Hyfforddiant (‘Cynllun i Gymru 2001’)Education and Training (‘Plan for Wales 2001’)
- 16Athrawon yn Rhannu SwyddiJob Sharing for Teachers
- 17Cyllido Ysgolion ym MhowysSchool Funding in Powys
- 19Ysgolion Cynradd (Technoleg Gwybodaeth a Chyfathrebu)Primary Schools (Information and Communications Technology)
- 21Diogelwch Trafnidiaeth YsgolionSchool Transport Safety
- 23Pwyntiau o DrefnPoints of Order
- 25Cynnig TrefniadolProcedural Motion 1 bleidlais1 vote
- 26Ethol i Ganolfan Ewropeaidd CymruElection to the Wales European Centre 1 bleidlais1 vote
- 27Y Strategaeth i OfalwyrThe Carers’ Strategy 4 o bleidleisiau4 votes
- 50Dadl FerShort Debate
- 60Anerchiad gan Ei Mawrhydi, y FrenhinesAddress by Her Majesty the Queen
PleidleisiauVotes
| PleidlaisVote | O blaidFor | YmatalAbstain | Yn erbynAgainst | CanlyniadResult |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cynnig TrefniadolProcedural Motion | ||||
| Cynnig trefniadolProcedural motion | 32 | 0 | 0 | DerbyniwydAdopted |
| Ethol i Ganolfan Ewropeaidd CymruElection to the Wales European Centre | ||||
| Cynnig NNDM1081Motion NNDM1081 | 33 | 0 | 0 | DerbyniwydAdopted |
| Y Strategaeth i OfalwyrThe Carers’ Strategy | ||||
| Gwelliant 1Amendment 1 | 35 | 0 | 0 | DerbyniwydAdopted |
| Gwelliant 2Amendment 2 | 35 | 0 | 0 | DerbyniwydAdopted |
| Gwelliant 3Amendment 3 | 35 | 0 | 0 | DerbyniwydAdopted |
| Cynnig wedi’i ddiwygioAmended motion | 35 | 0 | 0 | DerbyniwydAdopted |
TrafodionProceedings
Cyfarfu’r Cynulliad am 1.15 p.m. gyda’r Llywydd yn y Gadair.
The Assembly met at 1.15 p.m. with the Presiding Officer in the Chair.
Cwestiynau i’r Gweinidog dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Comisiwn Gwasanaethau Iechyd Arbenigol ar gyfer Cymru (Corff i Ddisodli)
Specialised Health Services Commission for Wales (Replacement Body)
Will the Minister make a statement on the proposed structure for the replacement body for the Specialised Health Services Commission for Wales? (OAQ18325)
A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad ar y strwythur arfaethedig ar gyfer y corff i ddisodli’r Comisiwn Gwasanaethau Iechyd Arbenigol ar gyfer Cymru? (OAQ18325)
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
As part of the structural reforms of NHS Wales, an arm’s-length commissioning agency will be established to undertake specialised health service commissioning. The agency will also provide a commissioning support and advisory service to local health boards and the NHS Wales department. It will be established in April 2003 at the same time as the local health boards. I will present a paper on these proposals in the next meeting of the Health and Social Services Committee.
Fel rhan o’r diwygiadau strwythurol yn GIG Cymru, sefydlir asiantaeth gomisiynu hyd braich i ymgymryd â chomisiynu gwasanaethau iechyd arbenigol. Bydd yr asiantaeth hefyd yn darparu gwasanaeth cymorth comisiynu ac ymgynghorol i’r byrddau iechyd lleol ac i adran GIG Cymru. Fe’i sefydlir yn Ebrill 2003 ar yr un pryd â’r byrddau iechyd lleol. Cyflwynaf bapur ar y cynigion hyn yng nghyfarfod nesaf y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol.
Will you confirm that this body will be headed by an independent chair appointed under Lord Nolan’s principles?
A wnewch gadarnhau mai cadeirydd annibynnol wedi’i benodi yn unol ag egwyddorion yr Arglwydd Nolan a fydd yn bennaeth ar y corff hwn?
I confirm that an independent chair will be appointed.
Cadarnhaf y caiff cadeirydd annibynnol ei benodi.
A fydd y corff newydd hwn yn comisiynu gwasanaethau ar gyfer awtistiaeth?
Will this new body commission services for autism?
Fifty categories of service will be commissioned by this new agency. I will give a full report on this to the Health and Social Services Committee, which will inform you about particular areas and services, such as autism.
Comisiynir 50 o gategorïau gwasanaeth gan yr asiantaeth newydd hon. Rhoddaf adroddiad llawn ar hyn i’r Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, a fydd yn eich hysbysu am y meysydd a’r gwasanaethau penodol, fel awtistiaeth.
Many organisations in the voluntary sector that deliver services will have to negotiate with up to 44 commissioning authorities—22 social services departments and 22 local health boards. Would it not be appropriate for this new specialist commission to consider all-Wales services in general, including those provided by voluntary organisations?
Bydd llawer o gyrff yn y sector gwirfoddol sy’n darparu gwasanaethau’n gorfod negodi â hyd at 44 o awdurdodau comisiynu—22 adran gwasanaethau cymdeithasol a 22 bwrdd iechyd lleol. Oni fyddai’n briodol i’r comisiwn arbenigol newydd hwn ystyried gwasanaethau i Gymru gyfan yn gyffredinol, gan gynnwys y rhai a ddarperir gan gyrff gwirfoddol?
At present, local services are commissioned locally. Some of these are through the local authority, because there is often a link between health and social care, and some are through the health authority. Those responsibilities will cross through to the new local health boards. We are considering areas where we need to ensure that there is, possibly, a lead commissioning body or a local and national remit of that organisation to take those issues on board.
Ar hyn o bryd, fe gomisiynir gwasanaethau lleol yn lleol. Ceir rhai ohonynt drwy’r awdurdod lleol, gan fod cyswllt yn aml rhwng iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, a cheir rhai drwy’r awdurdod iechyd. Trosglwyddir y cyfrifoldebau hynny i’r byrddau iechyd lleol newydd. Yr ydym yn ystyried meysydd lle y mae’n bosibl y bydd yn rhaid inni sicrhau bod corff comisiynu arweiniol neu gylch gwaith lleol a chenedlaethol i’r corff hwnnw i ystyried y materion hynny.
Meddygon Teulu
General Practitioners
What support is being provided for the recruitment and retention of general practitioners in Wales? (OAQ18278)
Pa gefnogaeth sy’n cael ei darparu ar gyfer cyflogi a chadw meddygon teulu yng Nghymru? (OAQ18278)
I have allocated an additional £1 million to initiatives to recruit GPs to Wales, and to retain them beyond the age of 55. These initiatives include £5,000 to attract newly qualified GPs to take up employment in Wales; £1,000 a year to GPs aged 55 to 64 to encourage them to continue practising in primary care, and a range of discretionary initiatives that health authorities can use to aid GP recruitment.
Yr wyf wedi dyrannu £1 filiwn ychwanegol i fentrau i recriwtio meddygon teulu yng Nghymru, ac i’w cadw ar ôl iddynt gyrraedd 55 oed. Mae’r mentrau hyn yn cynnwys £5,000 i ddenu meddygon teulu sydd newydd gymhwyso i weithio yng Nghymru; £1,000 y flwyddyn i feddygon teulu rhwng 55 a 64 oed i’w hannog i ddal i ymarfer mewn gofal sylfaenol, ac amryw o fentrau dewisol y gall awdurdodau iechyd eu defnyddio i’w helpu i recriwtio meddygon teulu.
I am sure that you are aware that in my constituency, and others, as well as the problem of recruiting and retaining GPs there is also a problem in attracting locum GPs, especially to Valleys communities. This means that in some cases patients wait weeks to see a GP. What actions can we take to address this severe problem?
Yr wyf yn sicr eich bod yn ymwybodol bod problem ychwanegol yn fy etholaeth i, ac mewn rhai eraill, yn ogystal â’r broblem o recriwtio a chadw meddygon teulu, sef denu dirprwy feddygon teulu, yn enwedig i gymunedau’r Cymoedd. Golyga hynny fod cleifion mewn rhai achosion yn aros wythnosau i weld meddyg teulu. Pa gamau y gallwn eu cymryd i ymdrin â’r broblem ddifrifol hon?
This is a serious problem. That is why those attractive recruitment and retention initiatives are so important. It will be the local health boards’ responsibility to ensure that we have adequate service personnel in terms of GPs for each community and each area. I am pleased that there has been extra recruitment in your community, which will address some of the issues. We must also consider GP contracts—which will boost the morale of GPs, and the whole primary care team—which we must take forward to address these shortages and pressures.
Mae hon yn broblem ddifrifol. Dyna pam y mae’r mentrau recriwtio a chadw deniadol hynny mor bwysig. Cyfrifoldeb y byrddau iechyd lleol fydd sicrhau bod gennym staff gwasanaethu digonol o ran meddygon teulu i bob cymuned a phob ardal. Yr wyf yn falch bod recriwtio ychwanegol wedi bod yn eich cymuned chi, a fydd yn ymdrin â rhai o’r materion hynny. Rhaid inni hefyd ystyried contractau meddygon teulu—a fydd yn rhoi hwb i feddygon teulu, a’r holl dîm gofal sylfaenol—y bydd yn rhaid inni fwrw ymlaen â hwy er mwyn ymdrin â’r prinder a’r pwysau hyn.
The World Health Organisation rates Britain among the top three countries in terms of its level of primary health care and level of commitment from the workforce. Do you agree that the Assembly needs to provide support for at least another 100 GPs in Wales by 2004, and for even more ambitious targets by 2007?
Mae Mudiad Iechyd y Byd yn cyfrif Prydain yn un o’r tair gwlad orau o ran lefel ei gofal iechyd sylfaenol a maint ymrwymiad y gweithlu. A ydych yn cytuno bod angen i’r Cynulliad ddarparu cymorth ar gyfer o leiaf 100 o feddygon teulu ychwanegol yng Nghymru erbyn 2004, ac ar gyfer targedau mwy uchelgeisiol byth erbyn 2007?
We must recruit more GPs. Our workforce targets, which we will discuss in a few weeks in the Health and Social Services Committee, will address these issues. The new GP contract will provide a good, basic working environment and fair remuneration, which will attract and retain GPs. We also have initiatives to recruit from overseas if necessary. There will be a wide range of options for GPs and their practices, which we will take forward with the GP contract and our recruitment and retention initiative.
Rhaid inni recriwtio rhagor o feddygon teulu. Bydd ein targedau gweithlu, a drafodwn ymhen ychydig wythnosau yn y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, yn rhoi sylw i’r materion hyn. Bydd y contract newydd i feddygon teulu’n darparu amgylchedd gweithio sylfaenol da a thâl teg, a fydd yn denu ac yn cadw meddygon teulu. Mae gennym fentrau hefyd i recriwtio o dramor os oes angen. Bydd amrywiaeth eang o ddewisiadau i feddygon teulu a’u practisiau, y byddwn yn eu datblygu gyda’r contract meddygon teulu a’n menter recriwtio a chadw.
In the Valleys, single GP practices are commonplace and, as we have just heard, it may take weeks to get an appointment. Given that GPs are so overworked, should we also expect them to deliver preventative measures and routine health checks, which form a vital part of the strategy to improve health in Wales generally?
Yn y Cymoedd, mae practisiau ag un meddyg teulu yn gyffredin ac, fel yr ydym newydd ei glywed, fe all gymryd wythnosau i gael apwyntiad. O wybod bod gan feddygon teulu ormod o waith, a yw’n iawn inni hefyd ddisgwyl iddynt weithredu mesurau ataliol a gwneud archwiliadau iechyd rheolaidd, sy’n rhan annatod o’r strategaeth i wella iechyd yng Nghymru’n gyffredinol?
That goes back to our primary care strategy. We are about to launch the action plan for that. It is about the whole primary care team. The role of nurses, as well as GPs, is critical in terms of health prevention and the scrutiny that we need to ensure for these services, particularly in our poorest communities where there is chronic ill health. This will come through our primary care action plan.
Mae hynny’n gysylltiedig â’n strategaeth gofal sylfaenol. Yr ydym ar fin lansio’r cynllun gweithredu ar ei chyfer. Mae’n ymwneud â’r holl dîm gofal iechyd sylfaenol. Mae rôl nyrsys, yn ogystal â meddygon teulu, yn hollbwysig o ran atal iechyd gwael a’r archwilio y mae’n rhaid inni ei sicrhau ar gyfer y gwasanaethau hyn, yn enwedig yn ein cymunedau tlotaf lle y mae iechyd gwael cronig. Daw hyn drwy ein cynllun gweithredu gofal sylfaenol.
Ymwybyddiaeth o Clamydia
Awareness of Chlamydia
What actions is the Minister taking to raise awareness of chlamydia? (OAQ18277)
Pa gamau y mae’r Gweinidog yn eu cymryd i godi ymwybyddiaeth o clamydia? (OAQ18277)
Last December the Assembly launched a campaign to raise public awareness about sexually transmitted infections. The rising incidence of chlamydia and its possible effects on health, including infertility, is a major theme of the campaign. Evaluation of the campaign is ongoing, but early indications show that it has been well received by young people.
Fis Rhagfyr diwethaf, lansiodd y Cynulliad ymgyrch i hybu ymwybyddiaeth y cyhoedd o heintiadau a drosglwyddir yn rhywiol. Mae amlder cynyddol clamydia a’i effeithiau posibl ar iechyd, gan gynnwys anffrwythlondeb, yn brif thema yn yr ymgyrch. Mae’r gwerthuso ar yr ymgyrch yn mynd rhagddo, ond yr arwyddion cynnar yw ei bod wedi cael derbyniad da gan bobl ifanc.
I congratulate you on the awareness campaign launched last December. A constituent asked me to raise this issue, as her 24-year-old daughter is now sterile because of this awful and silent disease, which, in most cases, is not recognised until it is too late. Will there be an ongoing campaign to raise awareness of this terrible disease, and will you provide the results of any evaluation of the campaign?
Fe’ch llongyfarchaf ar yr ymgyrch ymwybyddiaeth a lansiwyd fis Rhagfyr diwethaf. Gofynnodd un o’m hetholwyr imi godi’r mater hwn, gan fod ei merch 24 mlwydd oed yn anffrwythlon yn awr oherwydd y clefyd cudd ac ofnadwy hwn nas darganfyddir, yn y rhan fwyaf o achosion, neu ei bod yn rhy hwyr. A fydd ymgyrch barhaus i hybu ymwybyddiaeth o’r clefyd ofnadwy hwn, ac a wnewch ddarparu canlyniadau unrhyw werthusiad o’r ymgyrch?
That is the tragic outcome of diseases such as chlamydia. Raising awareness of chlamydia is a priority in our strategic framework to promote sexual health, and that is why we launched a campaign to target 16 to 30-year-olds. We are considering ways of providing more regular screening and opportunistic testing of young people and those in older age groups to detect chlamydia, so that it can be treated and such terrible outcomes averted. I am committed to taking this forward. We have started this campaign and we are determined to see it through in order to treat and prevent chlamydia in Wales.
Dyna ganlyniad trychinebus clefydau fel clamydia. Mae hybu ymwybyddiaeth o clamydia yn flaenoriaeth yn ein fframwaith strategol i hyrwyddo iechyd rhywiol, a dyna pam y gwnaethom lansio ymgyrch i dargedu pobl ifanc 16 i 30 mlwydd oed. Yr ydym yn ystyried dulliau o ddarparu sgrinio mwy rheolaidd a phrofi manteisgar ar gyfer pobl ifanc a rhai mewn grwpiau oedran hŷn i ddarganfod clamydia, fel y gellir ei drin ac osgoi canlyniadau mor ofnadwy. Yr wyf wedi ymrwymo i fwrw ymlaen â hyn. Cychwynasom yr ymgyrch hon ac yr ydym yn benderfynol o’i dilyn i’r pen er mwyn trin ac atal clamydia yng Nghymru.
I was unaware of the cause and effects of this disease until the beginning of this week. Statistics show that many people are likely to be affected by chlamydia—almost one in three people in some parts of the United States of America—and that it is fairly cheap and easy to treat if it is caught early enough. We may not be representative but, given the fact that so few people are aware of chlamydia, do you agree that we should redouble our efforts to educate the public about this worrying disease?
Nid oeddwn yn ymwybodol o achos ac effeithiau’r clefyd hwn tan ddechrau’r wythnos hon. Mae ystadegau’n dangos bod llawer o bobl yn debygol o gael eu heffeithio gan clamydia—ymron i un ym mhob tri mewn rhai rhannau o Unol Daleithiau America—ac y gellir ei drin yn eithaf rhad a rhwydd os caiff ei ddal yn ddigon buan. Efallai nad ydym yn gynrychioladol ond, o ystyried y ffaith bod cyn lleied o bobl yn ymwybodol o clamydia, a ydych yn cytuno y dylem ddyblu ein hymdrechion i addysgu’r cyhoedd am y clefyd gofidus hwn?
I am grateful to Janice Gregory for bringing this to my attention. We are focusing on this in the Assembly. Chlamydia is an invisible disease for many, as Janice said, and we must draw more public attention to it. The number of diagnosed cases of chlamydia in Wales has doubled over the past five years. I welcome the Assembly’s support for this campaign. The campaign must focus on prevention, as well as treatment. Our condom campaign is key to preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, including chlamydia. We must focus on screening to identify the disease and providing treatment to cure it. I am grateful for your interest in taking this forward.
Yr wyf yn ddiolchgar i Janice Gregory am ddod â hyn i’m sylw. Yr ydym yn canolbwyntio ar hyn yn y Cynulliad. Mae clamydia’n glefyd anweledig i lawer, fel y dywedodd Janice, a rhaid inni dynnu mwy o sylw ato ymysg y cyhoedd. Mae nifer yr achosion o clamydia a gafodd eu canfod yng Nghymru wedi dyblu dros y pum mlynedd diwethaf. Croesawaf gefnogaeth y Cynulliad i’r ymgyrch hon. Rhaid i’r ymgyrch ganolbwyntio ar atal, yn ogystal â thrin. Mae ein hymgyrch condomau’n hollbwysig er mwyn atal clefydau a drosglwyddir yn rhywiol, gan gynnwys clamydia, rhag lledaenu. Rhaid inni ganolbwyntio ar sgrinio er mwyn canfod y clefyd a darparu triniaeth i’w wella. Yr wyf yn ddiolchgar am eich diddordeb wrth fwrw ymlaen â hyn.
You have partly answered my question. What strategy is available to help young people withstand the pressure to become sexually active and to reinforce the message of the importance of protected sex?
Yr ydych wedi ateb fy nghwestiwn yn rhannol. Pa strategaeth sydd ar gael i helpu pobl ifanc i wrthsefyll y pwysau i ddod yn rhywiol weithredol ac i ategu’r neges am bwysigrwydd rhyw diogel?
Those are the key messages of our campaign for young people, especially the 16 to 30-year-old target group. The campaign has generated much uptake and interest, and has resulted in pressure on the genito-urinary medicine service in Wales, by way of additional consultant appointments. We must link our work on health promotion among young people with the work being done on sex education in schools, in co-operation with my colleague, Jane Davidson. The Assembly must take this seriously.
Dyna negeseuon allweddol ein hymgyrch i bobl ifanc, yn enwedig y grŵp targed 16 i 30 mlwydd oed. Mae’r ymgyrch wedi ennyn ymateb a diddordeb mawr, ac mae hynny wedi arwain at bwysau ar y gwasanaeth cenhedlol-droethol yng Nghymru, ar ffurf apwyntiadau ychwanegol ag ymgynghorwyr. Rhaid inni gysylltu ein gwaith ar hybu iechyd ymysg pobl ifanc â’r gwaith a wneir ar addysg rhyw mewn ysgolion, mewn cydweithrediad â’m cyd-Weinidog, Jane Davidson. Rhaid i’r Cynulliad gymryd hyn o ddifrif.
Targedau Newydd yn Is-adran y Gweinidog
New Targets within the Minister’s Division
Will the Minister make a statement on new targets set within her division? (OAQ18350)
A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad ar y targedau newydd a osodwyd yn ei his-adran? (OAQ18350)
Following the service and financial framework planning round, health authorities have been informed that targets have been set for cardiac surgery, angiography, orthopaedics, cancer and waiting times in general. Another key service priority is the need to sustain an adequate accident and emergency response in line with the emergency pressures planning guidance.
Yn dilyn cylch cynllunio y fframwaith gwasanaethau ac ariannol, hysbyswyd yr awdurdodau iechyd bod targedau wedi’u gosod ar gyfer llawfeddygaeth y galon, angiograffeg, orthopedeg, canser ac amseroedd aros yn gyffredinol. Blaenoriaeth gwasanaeth allweddol arall yw’r angen i gynnal ymateb digonol i ddamweiniau ac achosion brys yn unol â’r canllawiau cynllunio ar bwysau argyfwng.
The Society of British Neurological Surgeons states that children should have access to neurological intervention within two hours of need. Does the Minister believe that this should be a target within her division and, if so, does she accept that the recent Specialised Health Services Commission for Wales report on children’s services is fundamentally flawed, as children from west Wales will not have access to neurological intervention within two hours of need?
Mae Cymdeithas Llawfeddygon Niwrolegol Prydain yn datgan y dylai plant allu derbyn ymyriad niwrolegol o fewn dwy awr pan fo angen. A yw’r Gweinidog yn credu y dylai hynny fod yn darged yn ei his-adran ac, os felly, a yw’n derbyn bod diffyg sylfaenol yn adroddiad diweddar y Comisiwn Gwasanaethau Iechyd Arbenigol ar gyfer Cymru ar wasanaethau plant, gan na fydd plant o orllewin Cymru’n gallu derbyn ymyriad niwrolegol o fewn dwy awr pan fo angen?
There is consultation on the SHSCW report on the specialist health needs of children in Wales. I will make an announcement in Committee in July about the immediate funding required to support the important specialist services for children. The consultation period between July and September will enable Members to voice their opinions on the SHSCW report.
Mae ymgynghori ar adroddiad y Comisiwn Gwasanaethau Iechyd Arbenigol ar gyfer Cymru ar anghenion iechyd arbenigol plant yng Nghymru. Byddaf yn gwneud cyhoeddiad yn y Pwyllgor yng Ngorffennaf am yr arian sydd ei angen ar unwaith i gynnal gwasanaethau arbenigol pwysig i blant. Bydd y cyfnod ymgynghori rhwng Gorffennaf a Medi yn galluogi’r Aelodau i fynegi eu barn am adroddiad y comisiwn.
Ieuan Wyn Jones The Leader of the Opposition spoken in English p. 8
Ieuan Wyn Jones Arweinydd yr Wrthblaid siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 8
I note that you refer to targets to be achieved rather than commitments. I remind you of the manifesto on which you fought the 1999 Assembly election. It contained a commitment that no-one would wait more than six months for out-patient treatment or more than 18 months for in-patient treatment.
Sylwaf eich bod yn cyfeirio at dargedau i’w cyrraedd yn hytrach nag at ymrwymiadau. Fe’ch atgoffaf am y maniffesto y gwnaethoch ymladd etholiad Cynulliad 1999 ar ei sail. Yr oedd ymrwymiad ynddo na fyddai neb yn disgwyl am fwy na chwe mis am driniaeth claf allanol neu am fwy na 18 mis am driniaeth claf mewnol.
It is unlikely that those targets will be achieved by 2003. What excuse will you offer the Welsh electorate for failing to meet them?
Mae’n annhebygol y cyrhaeddir y targedau hynny erbyn 2003. Pa esgus a gynigiwch i etholwyr Cymru am fethu â’u cyrraedd?
I think the Welsh electorate wants to see that the health service is improving and with more resources going to it. An extra £1 billion has already gone to the health service as a result of a Labour Chancellor allocating funds and Assembly backing for the service, and an extra £1.8 billion will come over the next five years. That is what people want to see. They also want to see delivery on the targets that the Assembly has set. We have met the 12-month cardiac target and we are seeing a reduction in our other target objectives.
Credaf fod etholwyr Cymru am weld y gwasanaeth iechyd yn gwella, ac â rhagor o adnoddau’n mynd iddo. Mae £1 biliwn ychwanegol wedi mynd at y gwasanaeth iechyd eisoes o ganlyniad i ddyrannu cyllid gan y Canghellor Llafur a chefnogaeth y Cynulliad i’r gwasanaeth, a daw £1.8 biliwn ychwanegol dros y pum mlynedd nesaf. Dyna’r hyn y mae pobl am ei weld. Maent hefyd am weld cyflawni’r targedau a osododd y Cynulliad. Yr ydym wedi cyrraedd y targed 12 mis i driniaeth gardïaidd ac yr ydym yn gweld gostyngiad yn ein hamcanion targed eraill.
Ysbyty Cymunedol Newydd yn Ninbych-y-pysgod
New Community Hospital in Tenby
Pryd y mae’r Gweinidog yn disgwyl cais gan Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Sir Benfro a Derwen am gyllid i ddarparu ysbyty cymunedol newydd yn Ninbych-y-pysgod? (OAQ18329)
When does the Minister expect to receive an application for funding from Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust to provide a new community hospital in Tenby? (OAQ18329)
Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust has developed a strategic outline case, which is currently with the health authority for approval. The strategic outline case should be submitted to the Welsh Assembly Government shortly. When the case is approved, the trust will proceed to develop its outline business case in which a preferred option will be identified and costed. If the preferred option is not suitable for public private partnership or a private finance initiative, the trust will then submit the scheme for capital funding.
Mae Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Sir Benfro a Derwen wedi datblygu achos amlinellol strategol, sydd gyda’r awdurdod iechyd ar hyn o bryd i’w gymeradwyo. Mae’r achos amlinellol strategol yn debygol o gael ei gyflwyno i Lywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru cyn hir. Pan gymeradwyir yr achos, bydd yr ymddiriedolaeth yn mynd ymlaen i ddatblygu ei hachos busnes amlinellol lle y caiff y dewis a ffafrir ei nodi a’i brisio. Os nad yw’r dewis a ffafrir yn addas i bartneriaeth gyhoeddus-breifat neu fenter cyllid preifat, bydd yr ymddiriedolaeth yn cyflwyno’r cynllun wedyn ar gyfer cyllid cyfalaf.
Byddai’n ddefnyddiol gwybod pryd y daw’r broses hon i ben oherwydd bod pobl Dinbych-y-pysgod wedi diflasu ar ohirio darpariaeth ysbyty cymunedol wedi iddynt gael addewidion dro ar ôl tro. A allwch gadarnhau bod pob astudiaeth hyd yn hyn wedi dod i’r casgliad bod angen ysbyty cymunedol yn Ninbych-y-pysgod? Mae’r ysbyty presennol yn gwbl anaddas. Hefyd, a allwch roi sicrwydd i’r Cynulliad y bydd adnoddau ar gael ar gyfer darparu ysbyty cymunedol addas, a hynny o fewn amser rhesymol?
It would be useful to know when this process will be concluded because the people of Tenby are fed up with the delays in providing a community hospital following repeated promises. Can you confirm that every study thus far has come to the conclusion that a community hospital is needed in Tenby? The present hospital is wholly inadequate. Can you also give an assurance to the Assembly that resources will be available to provide an appropriate community hospital within a reasonable timescale?
There has been extensive public consultation on proposals to modernise community services for adults and older people in Pembrokeshire. There has not been consensus on the provision of services in Tenby, Saundersfoot and Narberth. However, clarity has emerged on what services we need in terms of intermediate care, minor injuries and consultants’ out-patient appointments. We are now moving forward and I have asked for a report for early next week on the situation at Tenby, and I will report back to the Assembly as soon as possible.
Bu ymgynghori cyhoeddus helaeth ar y cynigion i foderneiddio’r gwasanaethau cymunedol i oedolion a phobl hŷn yn sir Benfro. Ni fu consensws ar ddarparu gwasanaethau yn Ninbych-y-pysgod, Saundersfoot ac Arberth. Fodd bynnag, daeth yn amlwg pa wasanaethau y mae arnom eu hangen o ran gofal rhyngol, mân anafiadau ac apwyntiadau cleifion allanol ag ymgynghorwyr. Yr ydym yn symud ymlaen yn awr a gofynnais am adroddiad erbyn dechrau’r wythnos nesaf ar y sefyllfa yn Ninbych-y-pysgod, ac adroddaf yn ôl i’r Cynulliad cyn gynted ag y bo modd.
Nick Bourne The Leader of the Welsh Conservatives spoken in English p. 10
Nick Bourne Arweinydd Ceidwadwyr Cymru siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 10
Further to Cynog’s question, the people of Tenby have waited a long time for this hospital and we understood that there was a commitment to fund such a hospital. There is still a delay. The hospital is inadequate but the staff are excellent. However, it is vital that you get behind this and speak to the local trust to ensure that this project is delivered along with the promises made.
Ymhellach i gwestiwn Cynog, mae pobl Dinbych-y-pysgod wedi hirddisgwyl yr ysbyty hwn ac yr oeddem ar ddeall bod ymrwymiad i ariannu ysbyty o’r fath. Mae oedi o hyd. Mae’r ysbyty’n annigonol ond mae’r staff yn rhagorol. Fodd bynnag, mae’n hollbwysig eich bod yn cefnogi hyn ac yn siarad â’r ymddiriedolaeth leol i sicrhau y cyflawnir y prosiect yn unol â’r addewidion a wnaed.
The trust and the health authority have been responsible for bringing me this outline strategic case and then turning it into a business plan that we can consider in terms of funding needs. I am as anxious as you that we conclude this matter and get moving to meet the people’s needs in this area.
Yr ymddiriedolaeth a’r awdurdod iechyd a fu’n gyfrifol am ddod â’r achos strategol amlinellol hwn i mi a’i droi wedyn yn gynllun busnes y gallwn ei ystyried o ran yr anghenion ariannu. Yr wyf mor awyddus â chi inni ddod â’r mater hwn i ben a symud ymlaen i ddiwallu anghenion y bobl yn yr ardal hon.
Gwasanaeth Ambiwlans (Ardal Awdurdod Iechyd Dyfed Powys)
Ambulance Service (Dyfed Powys Health Authority Area)
Pa bryd y cafodd y Gweinidog gyfarfod gydag Awdurdod Iechyd Dyfed Powys i drafod y gwasanaeth ambiwlans yn yr ardal? (OAQ18322)
When did the Minister meet with Dyfed Powys Health Authority to discuss the ambulance service in the area? (OAQ18322)
I regularly meet chairs of health authorities and trusts, including the ambulance trust, to discuss service issues. Additionally, my officials regularly meet Dyfed Powys health authority and the ambulance trust when matters relating to the ambulance service can be raised and brought to my attention.
Yr wyf yn cyfarfod yn rheolaidd â chadeiryddion yr awdurdodau iechyd a’r ymddiriedolaethau, gan gynnwys yr ymddiriedolaeth ambiwlans, i drafod materion sy’n ymwneud â’r gwasanaeth. Yn ogystal â hynny, mae fy swyddogion yn cyfarfod yn rheolaidd ag awdurdod iechyd Dyfed Powys a’r ymddiriedolaeth ambiwlans pryd y gellir codi materion sy’n ymwneud â’r gwasanaeth ambiwlans a’u dwyn i’m sylw.
Bu sawl achlysur o oedi di-angen yng ngogledd Powys wrth aros ambiwlans brys. Mae cyngor iechyd cymuned yr ardal wedi dweud wrthyf mai un rheswm am hyn yw bod yr ambiwlans yn cael ei ddefnyddio at waith arall. Oherwydd problemau pellter mae’r ambiwlans yn gorfod teithio ymhell. Mae cyfnodau hir pan nad oes gwasanaethau brys ar gael. A wnewch chi drafod y sefyllfa bryderus hon â chyngor iechyd cymuned yr ardal?
There have been several instances of emergency ambulances being delayed unnecessarily in north Powys. The area’s community health council has told me that one reason for this is that ambulances are used for other purposes. Ambulances are required to cover a vast area. There are long periods when no emergency services are available. Will you discuss this worrying situation with the area’s community health council?
There are issues throughout Wales and community health councils make their representations to me. I will consider the issue in north Powys. However, we must also note that there were 54,000 emergency calls during January to March of 2002, which was 16 per cent higher than the same period in 2001. There is increased demand and pressure on the ambulance trust. I recently allocated an extra £1 million, which is direct revenue from the Assembly to the ambulance trust, and £3.6 million of direct capital for improving its equipment and vehicles. We are addressing this issue, but I will consider the north Powys situation.
Mae materion yn codi ledled Cymru ac mae’r cynghorau iechyd cymuned yn cyflwyno eu sylwadau i mi. Gwnaf ystyried y mater yng ngogledd Powys. Er hynny, dylem nodi hefyd y bu 54,000 o alwadau brys rhwng Ionawr a Mawrth 2002, a oedd yn 16 y cant yn uwch nag yn yr un cyfnod yn 2001. Mae galw a phwysau cynyddol ar yr ymddiriedolaeth ambiwlans. Yn ddiweddar dyrennais £1 filiwn ychwanegol o refeniw uniongyrchol o’r Cynulliad i’r ymddiriedolaeth ambiwlans, a £3.6 miliwn o gyfalaf uniongyrchol i wella’i hoffer a’i cherbydau. Yr ydym yn ymdrin â’r mater hwn, ond gwnaf ystyried y sefyllfa yng ngogledd Powys.
Targedau Amseroedd Aros
Waiting Time Targets
A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad ar y cynnydd tuag at gyflawni targedau amseroedd aros y gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol? (OAQ18330)
Will the Minister make a statement on the progress towards achieving the waiting times targets for the national health service? (OAQ18330)
In July 2001, I announced a waiting times strategy, and significant progress has been made towards achieving its aims. Shorter waiting times in priority areas are being achieved, booking systems are in place and statistical information has been redesigned to give a clearer indication of how long people have been waiting, which enables closer monitoring.
Yng Ngorffennaf 2001, cyhoeddais strategaeth amseroedd aros, a gwnaed cryn gynnydd at gyflawni ei amcanion. Ceir amseroedd aros byrrach mewn meysydd blaenoriaethol, mae systemau trefnu apwyntiadau ar waith ac ailgynlluniwyd y wybodaeth ystadegol i ddangos yn gliriach am faint y bu pobl yn aros, fel y gellir monitro hynny’n fanylach.
Cyfeiriaf y Gweinidog at y targedau a osodwyd yn ‘Cynllun i Gymru 2001’ a nododd y bydd amseroedd aros yn cymharu gyda’r gorau erbyn 2003-04. A eglurwch beth mae cymharu gyda’r gorau yn ei olygu yn y cyd-destun hwn, o gofio bod nifer y cleifion sydd yn disgwyl am fwy na chwe mis am driniaeth cataract wedi codi dros 100 i 800 mewn pedwar mis? Sut mae hynny’n cymharu â’r targedau a osodwyd yn y cynllun?
I refer the Minister to the targets set in ‘A Plan for Wales 2001’, which stated that waiting times will compare favourably with the best by 2003-04. Will you explain what comparing with the best means in this context, given that the number of patients waiting over six months for cataract surgery has risen by over 100 to 800 in four months. How does that compare to the targets that were set in the plan?
We must set manageable and reasonable targets, which the staff can deliver. There is a huge increase in pressure and demand, which is having a severe impact on the service. I have already mentioned the 16 per cent increase in calls to the ambulance trust. That is also reflected in our emergency services. As many as 5,000 people needed emergency treatment last week, which is more than this time last year. We must be realistic. However, you will know that since July 2001, the number of people waiting over four months for cataract surgery has been cut by nearly 60 per cent. Members will know of people who have benefited from that huge increase in the cataract surgery programme in Wales. We must keep to those targets to ensure that we do not see an increase in people waiting for cataract surgery, which can transform their vision and lives. We must also address the issue of pressure on the service.
Rhaid inni osod targedau dichonadwy a rhesymol, y gall y staff eu cyflawni. Mae cynnydd aruthrol yn y pwysau a’r galw, sy’n cael effaith ddifrifol ar y gwasanaeth. Yr wyf eisoes wedi crybwyll y 16 y cant o gynnydd yn y galwadau i’r ymddiriedolaeth ambiwlans. Gwelir hynny hefyd yn ein gwasanaethau achosion brys. Yr oedd cynifer â 5,000 o bobl angen triniaeth frys yr wythnos diwethaf, sy’n fwy na’r adeg hon y llynedd. Rhaid inni fod yn realistig. Fodd bynnag, fe wyddoch y bu gostyngiad o ymron i 60 y cant yn nifer y rhai sy’n disgwyl dros bedwar mis am lawdriniaeth cataract ers Gorffennaf 2001. Bydd yr Aelodau’n gwybod am rai a gafodd fudd o’r cynnydd aruthrol hwnnw yn y rhaglen llawdriniaeth cataract yng Nghymru. Rhaid inni gadw at y targedau hynny i sicrhau na welwn gynnydd yn y nifer sy’n disgwyl am lawdriniaeth cataract, a all drawsnewid eu golwg a’u bywyd. Rhaid inni hefyd roi sylw i fater y pwysau ar y gwasanaeth.
Are you aware that 313 people are waiting for MRI scans in the Gwent Health Authority area and that 135 people are waiting for CT scans? Are you also aware that many of those people have some form of cancer and that the longer it takes for patients to be scanned, the less chance they have of being properly treated for such terrible diseases?
A ydych yn ymwybodol bod 313 o bobl yn disgwyl am sganiau delweddu cyseiniant magnetig yn ardal Awdurdod Iechyd Gwent a bod 135 o bobl yn disgwyl am sganiau tomograffeg gyfrifiadurol? A ydych hefyd yn ymwybodol bod rhyw ffurf o ganser ar lawer o’r bobl hynny ac mai po hwyaf y cymerir i sganio cleifion, lleiaf yw’r cyfle sydd ganddynt i gael eu trin yn briodol am glefydau mor ofnadwy?
Waiting for scans is unacceptable in terms of our timescales. However, as a result of the extra £40 million, which has been invested in the health service for capital renewal, 10 new CT and MRI scanners are being commissioned. I am delighted that I will be visiting Singleton Hospital this week to look at its new CT scanner. Our investment in the health service is resulting in more CT and MRI scanners, which will reduce the unacceptable wait for people who need that diagnostic equipment.
Mae’n annerbyniol yng nghyd-destun ein hamserlenni fod rhai’n disgwyl am sganiau. Fodd bynnag, o ganlyniad i’r £40 miliwn a fuddsoddwyd yn y gwasanaeth iechyd ar gyfer adnewyddu cyfalaf, comisiynir 10 o sganwyr tomograffeg gyfrifiadurol a delweddu cyseiniant magnetig newydd. Yr wyf yn falch iawn y byddaf yn ymweld ag Ysbyty Singleton yr wythnos hon i gael golwg ar ei sganiwr tomograffeg gyfrifiadurol newydd. O ganlyniad i’n buddsoddiad yn y gwasanaeth iechyd bydd rhagor o sganwyr CT ac MRI, a fydd yn lleihau’r aros annerbyniol gan bobl sydd angen yr offer diagnostig hwnnw.
Cwestiynau i’r Gweinidog dros Addysg a Dysgu Gydol Oes
Questions to the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning
Dafydd Elis-Thomas Y Llywydd siaradwyd yn Gymraeg t. 13
Dafydd Elis-Thomas The Presiding Officer spoken in Welsh p. 13
Trosglwyddwyd cwestiwn 1 (OAQ18289) ar gyfer ateb ysgrifenedig.
Question 1 (OAQ18289) has been transferred for written answer.
Prifysgol Cymru (Adroddiad Syr David Williams)
University of Wales (Sir David Williams’s report)
Pa drafodaethau y mae’r Gweinidog wedi eu cael gyda chynrychiolwyr o Brifysgol Cymru i drafod argymhellion adroddiad Syr David Williams ar ddyfodol y sefydliad? (OAQ18294)
What discussions has the Minister had with University of Wales representatives on the recommendations of Sir David Williams’s report on the future of the institution? (OAQ18294)
Jane Davidson Y Gweinidog dros Addysg a Dysgu Gydol Oes siaradwyd yn Gymraeg t. 13
Jane Davidson The Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning spoken in Welsh p. 13
Daeth copi o adroddiad Syr David Williams i law ar 24 Mai. Cyfarfûm â Syr David yn ystod cyfnod ei adolygiad, ond nid wyf wedi cwrdd â chynrychiolwyr Prifysgol Cymru ers cwblhau’r adolygiad. Yr wyf yn bwriadu cwrdd â Derec Llwyd Morgan yn fuan i drafod yr adroddiad.
I received a copy of Sir David Williams’s report on 24 May. I met Sir David during the review but have not met University of Wales representatives since the review’s completion. I intend to meet Derec Llwyd Morgan shortly to discuss the report.
Yr wyf yn falch o glywed eich bod yn bwriadu gwneud hynny. Mae hynny’n unol ag argymhelliad yr adroddiad ar addysg uwch y dylai’r Gweinidog gynnal deialog gyda Dysgu ac Addysgu Cymru, Addysg Uwch Cymru a Phrifysgol Cymru er mwyn cynnal adolygiad beirniadol o briodoldeb strwythur Prifsygol Cymru. Yn eich barn chi, beth fydd prif nodwedd Prifysgol Cymru yn y dyfodol, ac a fydd un radd i’r sector cyfan yn hwyluso cydweithio, yn unol â chasgliad adroddiad Syr David Williams?
I am pleased to hear that you intend to do that. That is in accordance with the report on higher education’s recommendation that the Minister should hold a dialogue with Education and Learning Wales, Higher Education Wales and the University of Wales in order to critically evaluate the appropriateness of the University of Wales’s structure. In your opinion, what will be the University of Wales’s main characteristic in future, and will a single degree for the whole sector facilitate collaboration, as Sir David Williams’s report concludes?
The review of the University of Wales is fundamentally a matter for its constituent members. I await the outcome of discussions in the sector and look forward to an ongoing dialogue with all the university’s institutions. The common degree structure offered by the University of Wales could be valuable for my vision of a sector built on collaboration and networks of excellence.
Mae’r adolygiad o Brifysgol Cymru’n fater i’w haelodau cyfansoddol yn y bôn. Yr wyf yn disgwyl canlyniad y trafodaethau yn y sector ac edrychaf ymlaen at gael deialog barhaus â holl sefydliadau’r brifysgol. Gallai’r strwythur graddau cyffredin a gynigir gan Brifysgol Cymru fod yn fuddiol i’m gweledigaeth o sector sy’n seiliedig ar gydweithio a rhwydweithiau rhagoriaeth.
A fyddwch yn trafod adroddiad Syr David Williams gyda Phrifysgol Caerdydd? A ydych yn disgwyl i Brifysgol Caerdydd fod yn ymroddedig i statws presennol Prifysgol Cymru?
Do you intend to discuss the Sir David Williams report with Cardiff University? Do you expect Cardiff University to be committed to the current status of the University of Wales?
Issues relating the University of Wales are a matter for its members and therefore they have been asked to respond to issues raised in the Sir David Williams report. I will continue my dialogue with all the university institutions in Wales on the future of collaboration in the sector.
Mae materion sy’n ymwneud â Phrifysgol Cymru’n fater i’w haelodau ac felly gofynnwyd iddynt ymateb i’r materion a godwyd yn adroddiad Syr David Williams. Byddaf yn parhau â’m deialog gyda’r holl sefydliadau prifysgol yng Nghymru ar gydweithio yn y dyfodol yn y sector hwn.
Addysg a Hyfforddiant (‘Cynllun i Gymru 2001’)
Education and Training (‘Plan for Wales 2001’)
Will the Minister make a statement on progress towards delivering the objectives in relation to education and training as outlined in ‘Plan for Wales 2001’? (OAQ18297)
A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am sut mae pethau’n dod ymlaen o ran cyflawni’r amcanion addysg a hyfforddiant a amlinellir yn ‘Cynllun i Gymru 2001’? (OAQ18297)
I will report to the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee on progress across education and lifelong learning as part of the annual budget planning round. The Welsh Assembly Government will report formally in the autumn on progress on the objectives in ‘Plan for Wales 2001’.
Byddaf yn adrodd i’r Pwyllgor Addysg a Dysgu Gydol Oes ar y cynnydd mewn addysg a dysgu gydol oes fel rhan o’r cylch cynllunio cyllideb blynyddol. Bydd Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru’n adrodd yn ffurfiol yn yr hydref ar y cynnydd ar yr amcanion yn ‘Cynllun i Gymru 2001’.
We look forward to seeing those details. ‘Plan for Wales 2001’ contains a clear aspiration to secure a strong future for universities, with high quality research and teaching. Are you alarmed at Higher Education Wales’s assessment that an extra £497 million is needed over the next three years to maintain current standards, and will you be able to persuade your colleague, the Minister for Finance, Local Government and Communities, to cough up this money, if it is needed?
Edrychwn ymlaen at weld y manylion hynny. Mae dyhead pendant yn ‘Cynllun i Gymru 2001’ i sicrhau dyfodol cadarn i brifysgolion, gydag ymchwil a dysgu o ansawdd da. A ydych yn dychryn wrth glywed asesiad Addysg Uwch Cymru bod angen £497 miliwn yn ychwanegol dros y tair blynedd nesaf i gynnal y safonau presennol, ac a fyddwch yn gallu darbwyllo’ch cyd-Aelod, y Gweinidog dros Gyllid, Llywodraeth Leol a Chymunedau, i dalu’r arian hwn, os oes angen?
We always take every lobby group’s ambitions for finance with a pinch of salt. However, I reaffirm that higher education institutions in Wales have done a tremendous job, not least this year, in ensuring that we have the best ever research assessment exercise result in Wales. The Government has fully funded the outcome of that exercise. I pay tribute to the sector, and to the Minister for Finance for willingly supporting that funding.
Yr ydym bob amser yn cymryd dyheadau pob grŵp lobïo am gyllid â phinsiad o halen. Fodd bynnag, yr wyf yn ailddatgan bod y sefydliadau addysg uwch yng Nghymru wedi gwneud gwaith aruthrol, yn fwy nag erioed eleni, wrth sicrhau’r canlyniad gorau erioed inni yn yr ymarfer asesu ymchwil yng Nghymru. Mae’r Llywodraeth wedi ariannu canlyniad yr ymarfer hwnnw’n llawn. Talaf deyrnged i’r sector, ac i’r Gweinidog dros Gyllid am gefnogi’r ariannu hwnnw o’i gwirfodd.
Do you agree that it will be difficult to fulfil your objectives when so many teachers feel under pressure because of the behaviour of a small, but vociferous minority of their pupils as well as, sadly, their parents, on occasion? Do you agree that we should do more to support teachers and insist that anyone who attacks a teacher be automatically prosecuted by the local education authority?
A ydych yn cytuno y bydd yn anodd cyflawni’ch amcanion pan fo cynifer o athrawon yn teimlo eu bod dan bwysau oherwydd ymddygiad lleiafrif bach, ond swnllyd, o’u disgyblion yn ogystal â’u rhieni ar brydiau, gwaetha’r modd? A ydych yn cytuno y dylem wneud rhagor i gynorthwyo athrawon a mynnu y bydd rhywun sy’n ymosod ar athro’n cael ei erlyn yn awtomatig gan yr awdurdod addysg lleol?
We are doing a great deal to support teachers in schools. We have established initiatives to tackle disaffection, not least of which is the truancy group, which meets today and will come forward with proposals to rewrite circular 3/99, which provides guidance on social inclusion.
Yr ydym yn gwneud llawer iawn i gynorthwyo athrawon mewn ysgolion. Yr ydym wedi sefydlu mentrau i fynd i’r afael ag ymddieithrio, ac ymysg y pwysicaf o’r rhain y mae’r grŵp triwantiaeth, sy’n cyfarfod heddiw ac a fydd yn cyflwyno cynigion i ailysgrifennu cylchlythyr 3/99, sy’n darparu canllawiau ar gynhwysiant cymdeithasol.
I am sure that you acknowledge the central role that further education lecturers and staff play in the delivery of our ambitious learning agenda. Will you do all you can to ensure that colleges urgently address the growing dissatisfaction in the sector in relation to the longstanding problems relating to pay and conditions?
Yr wyf yn sicr eich bod yn cydnabod y rôl ganolog y mae darlithwyr a staff addysg bellach yn ei chwarae wrth gyflawni ein hagenda uchelgeisiol ar ddysgu. A wnewch y cwbl a allwch i sicrhau bod y colegau’n rhoi sylw’n ddi-oed i’r anfodlonrwydd cynyddol yn y sector mewn cysylltiad â’r problemau hirsefydlog sy’n ymwneud â thâl ac amodau?
Under legislation passed in 1992, colleges were set up as independent institutions. It is up to each college to negotiate pay with its staff members. I fully understand why staff members were concerned that the Association of Colleges recommended a pay increase of 1.5 per cent—less than inflation—when we were confident that the additional funding provided by the Assembly allowed for 4.1 per cent. I look to the colleges of Wales to be equitable and fair in ensuring that they encourage their teaching staff.
O dan ddeddfwriaeth a basiwyd yn 1992, sefydlwyd colegau’n sefydliadau annibynnol. Lle pob coleg yw negodi tâl â’i aelodau staff. Yr wyf yn deall yn iawn pam yr oedd aelodau staff yn bryderus bod Cymdeithas y Colegau wedi argymell codiad tâl o 1.5 y cant—llai na chwyddiant—a ninnau’n ffyddiog bod yr arian ychwanegol a ddarparwyd gan y Cynulliad yn darparu ar gyfer 4.1 y cant. Disgwyliaf i golegau Cymru fod yn deg a chyfiawn wrth sicrhau eu bod yn cefnogi eu staff dysgu.
Athrawon yn Rhannu Swyddi
Job Sharing for Teachers
A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am rannu swyddi yn achos athrawon? (OAQ18315)
Will the Minister make a statement regarding job sharing for teachers? (OAQ18315)
Employment arrangements are matters for individual schools. Job sharing can be an important element of a school’s strategy for securing an appropriate work-life balance for its staff. It can help support social inclusion and equality of opportunity. Job sharing by teachers can have considerable benefits for staff, schools and pupils. Schools can make the best use of skilled and experienced teachers who might not otherwise be able to teach and it provides pupils with a model of alternative ways of working.
Mae trefniadau cyflogaeth yn faterion i ysgolion unigol. Fe all rhannu swyddi fod yn elfen bwysig o strategaeth ysgol i sicrhau cydbwysedd priodol rhwng bywyd a gwaith i’w staff. Gall helpu hybu cynhwysiant cymdeithasol a chydraddoldeb cyfle. Mae rhannu swyddi gan athrawon yn gallu dod â chryn fudd i staff, ysgolion a disgyblion. Gall ysgolion wneud y defnydd gorau o athrawon medrus a phrofiadol na fyddent yn gallu dysgu fel arall, o bosibl, ac mae’n cynnig model o ddulliau gweithio eraill i’r disgyblion.
A gytunwch fod rhannu swyddi yn rhywbeth gwerth chweil? Gobeithiaf nad ydych yn cydweld â phobl sydd yn gwrthwynebu hyn ac yn dweud ei fod yn golygu cost ychwanegol.
Do you agree that job sharing is worthwhile? I hope that you do not share the view of those who oppose it and say that it leads to additional costs.
No, I do not. I am a great fan of job sharing. I would like to see more of it in education not least because, in smaller schools, a greater number of teaching staff would help to cover the national curriculum. Job sharing could also reduce the costs of providing cover for absent staff because job sharers could swap days and cover for each other. Absence due to ill health could also be reduced because individuals would be less tired and stressed, and experienced staff could return to work quicker after maternity leave. Job sharing could also provide an alternative to early retirement. Schools would be in a win-win situation if they were to actively consider job sharing.
Nac ydwyf. Yr wyf yn frwd iawn dros rannu swyddi. Hoffwn weld mwy ohono mewn addysg, yn fwy na dim am y byddai mwy o staff dysgu mewn ysgolion llai o gymorth i gwmpasu’r cwricwlwm cenedlaethol. Byddai rhannu swyddi’n fodd hefyd i leihau costau dirprwyo dros staff absennol gan y gallai y rhai sy’n rhannu swyddi gyfnewid diwrnodiau a dirprwyo dros ei gilydd. Gellid lleihau absenoldeb oherwydd iechyd gwael gan y byddai unigolion yn llai blinedig ac o dan lai o bwysau, a gallai staff profiadol ddychwelyd i weithio’n gynt ar ôl seibiant mamolaeth. Gallai rhannu swyddi fod yn ddewis yn lle ymddeol yn gynnar. Byddai ysgolion yn sicr o fod ar eu hennill pe byddent yn rhoi ystyriaeth weithredol i rannu swyddi.
There must be many teachers who are qualified in subjects for which there is a demand, such as science subjects, modern languages, or teaching through the medium of Welsh, but who are not teaching at the moment, possibly because they have young children. What are you doing to encourage them back into teaching?
Rhaid bod llawer o athrawon sydd â chymhwyster mewn pynciau y mae galw amdanynt, fel pynciau gwyddoniaeth, ieithoedd modern, neu ddysgu drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg, nad ydynt yn dysgu ar hyn o bryd, am fod ganddynt blant ifanc o bosibl. Beth yr ydych yn ei wneud i’w denu’n ôl i ddysgu?
It is a myth that there are great teacher shortages in Wales. We have demonstrated time and again that such teacher shortages do not exist. In some parts of Wales, it is difficult to get a job if you are a newly qualified teacher. However, in other parts there are still shortages, certainly in particular subject areas. We are working closely with the General Teaching Council for Wales on those areas. We want to encourage those teachers who have registered with GTCW as teachers to consider returning to the profession. In that context, job sharing is an opportunity that teachers should take up and discuss with local education authorities.
Nid oes sail i’r goel bod prinder mawr o athrawon yng Nghymru. Yr ydym wedi dangos dro ar ôl tro nad oes prinder athrawon o’r fath. Mewn rhai rhannau o Gymru, mae’n anodd cael swydd os ydych newydd ymgymhwyso’n athro. Fodd bynnag, mewn rhannau eraill fe geir prinder o hyd, mewn rhai meysydd pwnc yn sicr. Yr ydym yn cydweithio’n agos â Chyngor Addysgu Cyffredinol Cymru ar y meysydd hynny. Yr ydym am annog yr athrawon hynny sydd wedi cofrestru’n athrawon gyda Chyngor Addysgu Cyffredinol Cymru i ystyried dychwelyd i’r proffesiwn. Yn y cyd-destun hwnnw, mae rhannu swyddi’n gyfle y dylai athrawon ei dderbyn a’i drafod gyda’r awdurdodau addysg lleol.
Is the Minister aware that job sharing in the education sector in general is important? In specialist schools, it is often difficult to recruit expert assistants and therapists because they cannot share jobs effectively at the moment.
A yw’r Gweinidog yn ymwybodol bod rhannu swyddi yn y sector addysg yn gyffredinol yn bwysig? Mewn ysgolion arbenigol, ceir anhawster yn aml wrth recriwtio cynorthwywyr a therapyddion arbenigol am na allant rannu swyddi’n effeithiol ar hyn o bryd.
In terms of work-life balance and individuals’ jobs, we must ensure that, wherever possible, school governing bodies and local education authorities consider job sharing. On therapists, there is a cross-over between the health and education services. You will know, David, from Health and Social Services Committee meetings, that Jane Hutt and I are working closely on this issue and will publish a report in September on proposals to increase the number of therapists in Wales. A key recommendation in that report is likely to be to examine such ways of working.
O ran y cydbwysedd rhwng bywyd a gwaith a swyddi unigolion, rhaid inni sicrhau, lle bynnag y bo modd, fod cyrff llywodraethu ysgolion ac awdurdodau addysg lleol yn ystyried rhannu swyddi. Ynghylch therapyddion, mae cysylltiad rhwng y gwasanaethau iechyd ac addysg. Fe wyddoch, David, ar sail cyfarfodydd y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, fod Jane Hutt a minnau’n cydweithio’n agos ar y mater hwn ac y byddwn yn cyhoeddi adroddiad ym Medi ar gynigion i gynyddu nifer y therapyddion yng Nghymru. Mae’n debygol mai un argymhelliad allweddol yn yr adroddiad hwnnw fydd y dylid ystyried dulliau gweithio o’r fath.
Cyllido Ysgolion ym Mhowys
School Funding in Powys
Will the Minister make a statement on the levels of school funding in Powys? (OAQ18308)
A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am lefelau cyllido ysgolion ym Mhowys? (OAQ18308)
Preliminary information indicates that the authority has increased its overall education budget for 2002-03 by 6.4 per cent. The authority benefits from a £975,021 special grant for junior class sizes and key stage 3, a £163,443 special grant for rural and small schools, and will benefit from its share of the £18.7 million special grant that I announced on 31 May.
Mae’r wybodaeth ragarweiniol yn dangos bod yr awdurdod wedi cynyddu ei gyllideb addysg gyffredinol am 2002-03 o 6.4 y cant. Mae’r awdurdod yn derbyn grant arbennig o £975,021 ar gyfer meintiau dosbarthiadau iau a chyfnod allweddol 3, grant arbennig o £163,443 ar gyfer ysgolion bach a gwledig, a chaiff ei gyfran o’r grant arbennig o £18.7 miliwn a gyhoeddais ar 31 Mai.
On small schools—which I believe are defined as schools with less than 60 children for these purposes—you may not be aware that two such schools in Libanus and Trecastle in Powys are threatened with closure. I attended a meeting yesterday in Trecastle. The standard of educational performance at the school there is excellent. Will you reiterate your schools policy, which states that a school should not close if its educational standards are high and the curriculum is being delivered excellently?
Ynghylch ysgolion bach—y credaf mai’r diffiniad ohonynt i’r dibenion hyn yw ysgolion â llai na 60 o blant—mae’n bosibl na wyddoch fod bygythiad i gau dwy ysgol o’r fath yn Libanus a Threcastell ym Mhowys. Bûm yn bresennol mewn cyfarfod ddoe yn Nhrecastell. Mae safon y perfformiad addysgol yn yr ysgol yno’n rhagorol. A wnewch ailddatgan eich polisi ysgolion, sy’n datgan na ddylai ysgol gau os yw ei safonau addysgol yn uchel a’r cwricwlwm yn cael ei ddarparu’n rhagorol?
School organisation policy is a matter for the local authority. We have agreed our strategy on small and rural schools; it is a public document. All local authorities will be required to take account of that in making their decisions.
Mae polisi ar drefniadaeth ysgolion yn fater i’r awdurdod lleol. Yr ydym wedi cytuno ar ein strategaeth ar ysgolion bach a gwledig; mae’n ddogfen gyhoeddus. Bydd yn ofynnol i’r holl awdurdodau lleol ystyried hynny wrth wneud eu penderfyniadau.
We all welcome the extra £18.7 million. We would also like to know from where it came, but that is another issue. Do you agree that the annual budget causes unnecessary anxiety throughout Wales and that a longer budgetary cycle of, say, three years, would be a massive improvement?
Yr ydym oll yn croesawu’r £18.7 miliwn ychwanegol. Hoffem wybod hefyd o ble y daeth, ond mater arall yw hynny. A ydych yn cytuno bod y gyllideb flynyddol yn peri gofid diangen ledled Cymru ac y byddai cylch cyllidebol hwy o dair blynedd, dyweder, yn welliant aruthrol?
Good practice already exists, whereby some authorities provide schools with indicative budgets for up to three years ahead. I want that to become the norm. The Education Bill currently before Parliament will, when enacted, require local authorities to set up local fora to discuss budgetary issues with schools. Such structured dialogue is the right way to address schools’ need to plan ahead and will also ensure that we receive the same evidence from all 22 local authorities in Wales for consequent Assembly decisions.
Mae arfer da’n bodoli eisoes, lle y mae rhai awdurdodau’n darparu cyllidebau dynodol i ysgolion am hyd at dair blynedd i’r dyfodol. Yr wyf am i hynny ddod yn norm. Pan gaiff y Mesur Addysg sydd gerbron y Senedd ar hyn o bryd ei droi’n ddeddf, bydd yn ofynnol i’r awdurdodau lleol sefydlu fforymau lleol i drafod materion cyllidebol gyda’r ysgolion. Deialog strwythuredig o’r fath yw’r dull gorau o ymdrin ag angen ysgolion i gynllunio at y dyfodol a bydd hefyd yn sicrhau ein bod yn derbyn yr un dystiolaeth gan bob un o’r 22 awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru ar gyfer penderfyniadau dilynol gan y Cynulliad.
A yw’r Gweinidog yn cydymdeimlo ag athrawon a rhieni plant Ysgol Gynradd Gymunedol Llanandras a ddaeth i’r Cynulliad ddoe i wrthdystio dros yr hyn a ddigwyddodd yn yr ysgol honno? Ni fyddant yn gyfarwydd â’r ffigurau a ddatganodd y Gweinidog heddiw, oherwydd ar ddechrau’r flwyddyn ariannol bresennol, yr oedd yr ysgol yn wynebu toriad o 1 y cant yn ei chyllid a bu’n rhaid diswyddo staff. Yr oedd hynny cyn i’r ysgol gael gwybod ei bod yn derbyn arian ychwanegol ar gyfer cyllido’r cynllun tâl yn ôl perfformiad. A wnaiff y Gweinidog sicrhau na ddigwydd annibendod o’r math hwnnw eto ac y bydd ysgolion yn derbyn gwybodaeth glir a chywir yn y dyfodol am yr arian sydd ar gael iddynt yn hytrach na sbin parhaus y Llywodraeth hwn y maent wedi cael llond bol arno?
Does the Minister sympathise with the teachers and parents of the children of Presteigne Community Primary School, who visited the Assembly yesterday to protest about what happened at their school? They will not recognise the figures that the Minister quoted today because at the beginning of the current financial year the school faced a cut of 1 per cent in its budget and had to dismiss staff. That was before the school was told that it would receive additional money to fund the performance-related pay scheme. Will the Minister ensure that that kind of mess does not happen again and that schools receive clear and accurate information about the money available to them instead of the continuous spin from this Government, which they are fed up with?
I reject the suggestion that there is continuous spin from this Government. Local authorities were responsible for sending their budget information to the Assembly by 31 March. Powys County Council was the last local authority to deliver this information. If we had received all the information on 31 March, no authority would have had to make teachers redundant in the last week of May as a result of waiting for the additional money promised in my statement at the beginning of May. We made that promise, but we did not receive the information from all the local authorities. Local authorites are responsible for the delivery of local education, but they must deliver key outcomes for issues that are top priorities for the Assembly and must ensure that information is properly provided. The Minister for Finance, Local Government and Communities is setting up a group, with the Welsh Local Government Association, to ensure that that situation does not occur again. The education budget fora will ensure that we get the right information from local authorities through structured dialogue between schools and local authorities on setting budgets.
Gwrthodaf yr awgrym bod sbin parhaus gan y Llywodraeth hon. Yr oedd yr awdurdodau lleol yn gyfrifol am anfon eu gwybodaeth cyllideb at y Cynulliad erbyn 31 Mawrth. Cyngor Sir Powys oedd yr awdurdod lleol olaf i gyflenwi’r wybodaeth hon. Pe byddem wedi derbyn yr holl wybodaeth ar 31 Mawrth, ni fyddai’r un awdurdod wedi gorfod diswyddo athrawon yn wythnos olaf Mai o ganlyniad i aros am yr arian ychwanegol a addawyd yn fy natganiad ddechrau Mai. Rhoesom yr addewid honno, ond ni chawsom y wybodaeth gan yr holl awdurdodau lleol. Mae’r awdurdodau lleol yn gyfrifol am ddarparu addysg leol, ond rhaid iddynt gyflenwi’r prif ganlyniadau ar gyfer materion sy’n brif flaenoriaethau i’r Cynulliad a rhaid iddynt sicrhau bod y wybodaeth honno wedi’i darparu’n briodol. Mae’r Gweinidog dros Gyllid, Llywodraeth Leol a Chymunedau’n sefydlu grŵp, gyda Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru, i sicrhau na fydd y sefyllfa honno’n codi eto. Bydd y fforymau cyllideb addysg yn sicrhau ein bod yn cael y wybodaeth iawn gan yr awdurdodau lleol drwy ddeialog strwythuredig rhwng yr ysgolion a’r awdurdodau lleol ar osod cyllidebau.
Ysgolion Cynradd (Technoleg Gwybodaeth a Chyfathrebu)
Primary Schools (Information and Communications Technology)
A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am y mesurau i hybu ymwybyddiaeth o dechnoleg gwybodaeth a chyfathrebu mewn ysgolion cynradd? (OAQ18313)
Will the Minister make a statement on measures to promote awareness of information and communications technology in primary schools? (OAQ18313)
Since 1998-99, the Welsh Assembly Government has made nearly £60 million available to improve the provision and use of ICT in all schools in Wales. This includes funding for training, equipment and support through grants for education support and training; the equipping of ICT learning centres in 240 schools; laptops for over 400 primary school teachers, and the recent provision of interactive whiteboards and other multimedia equipment for every school in Wales. All schools in Wales, including primary schools, should now be connected to the internet. The Assembly’s ‘Cymru Ar-lein’ initiative will take this further by securing broadband connectivity for every school over the next three years.
Ers 1998-99, mae Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru wedi darparu ymron i £60 miliwn i wella’r ddarpariaeth a’r defnydd o dechnoleg gwybodaeth a chyfathrebu yn yr holl ysgolion yng Nghymru. Mae hyn yn cynnwys cyllid ar gyfer hyfforddiant, offer a chymorth drwy grantiau cynnal addysg a hyfforddiant; cyfarparu canolfannau dysgu TGCh mewn 240 o ysgolion; cyfrifiaduron arffed i dros 400 o athrawon ysgol gynradd, a darparu byrddau gwyn rhyngweithiol ac offer amlgyfrwng eraill yn ddiweddar i bob ysgol yng Nghymru. Dylai’r holl ysgolion yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys ysgolion cynradd, fod wedi’u cysylltu â’r rhyngrwyd. Bydd menter ‘Cymru Ar-lein’ y Cynulliad yn mynd â hynny ymhellach drwy sicrhau cysylltedd band llydan i bob ysgol dros y tair blynedd nesaf.
The Welsh Assembly has also recently awarded the contract for the development of the national grid for learning Cymru to Curriculum Data Wales. This initiative will have a major role in raising awareness of ICT in schools and developing high-quality digital content to support teaching and learning.
Yn ogystal â hynny, yn ddiweddar fe ddyfarnodd Cynulliad Cymru y contract i ddatblygu’r grid cenedlaethol ar gyfer dysgu Cymru i Curriculum Data Wales. Bydd rôl bwysig i’r fenter hon wrth hybu ymwybyddiaeth o dechnoleg gwybodaeth a chyfathrebu mewn ysgolion a datblygu cynnwys digidol o ansawdd da i hybu dysgu ac addysgu.
Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog. Fodd bynnag, ymwelais ag ysgol gynradd ym Mhowys yn ddiweddar, lle yr oedd ond pedwar cyfrifiadur pitw ar gyfer dros 100 o blant. A gredwch fod hynny’n ddigonol? A wnewch chi godi’r mater gyda’r awdurdod addysg lleol, fel bod gan bobl ifanc ym Mhowys mwy o gyfle i ddysgu am gyfrifiaduron a thechnoleg gwybodaeth a chyfathrebu?
Thank you for your response, Minister. However, I recently visited a primary school in Powys that had a paltry four computers for over 100 children. Do you believe that that is adequate? Will you raise the matter with the local education authority, so that young people in Powys have more opportunities to learn about computers and information and communications technology?
Schools have a range of ICT equipment. That is a result of the school, the local education authority and the Assembly working together. We have taken the universally applauded initiative of installing whiteboards in every school, and ensuring that £1 million of new money is made available through GEST for training in their use this year. That will ensure that every pupil in Wales has access to that high-quality interactive computer arrangement. The whiteboard will revolutionise teaching in a way that individual computers will not.
Mae gan ysgolion amrediad o offer TGCh. Mae hynny’n ganlyniad i gydweithio rhwng yr ysgol, yr awdurdod addysg lleol a’r Cynulliad. Yr ydym wedi cymryd y cam a ganmolwyd yn gyffredinol o osod byrddau gwyn ym mhob ysgol, a sicrhau bod £1 filiwn o arian newydd ar gael eleni drwy GEST am hyfforddiant i’w defnyddio. Bydd hynny’n sicrhau y gall pob disgybl yng Nghymru wneud defnydd o’r trefniant cyfrifiadurol rhyngweithiol rhagorol hwnnw. Bydd y bwrdd gwyn yn chwyldroi dysgu mewn modd na wnaiff cyfrifiaduron unigol.
Whiteboards will not revolutionise teaching unless teachers can use them. I accept that money is being made available for training, but I often hear concerns expressed—particularly in smaller primary schools—about the teachers having the time to undertake that training. It is no good courses being funded if schools cannot afford to employ supply teachers to release permanent staff to take up those courses. What are your views on that? Could schools use some of that budget to employ supply teachers, which would release teachers for training?
Ni fydd byrddau gwyn yn chwyldroi dysgu oni bai fod yr athrawon yn gallu eu defnyddio. Yr wyf yn derbyn bod arian yn cael ei ddarparu ar gyfer hyfforddi, ond clywaf bryderon yn aml—yn enwedig mewn ysgolion cynradd llai—ynghylch gallu athrawon i gael amser i ddilyn yr hyfforddiant hwnnw. Nid yw’n werth ariannu cyrsiau os na all yr ysgolion fforddio cyflogi athrawon llanw i ryddhau staff parhaol i ddilyn y cyrsiau hynny. Beth yw’ch barn am hynny? A allai’r ysgolion ddefnyddio rhywfaint o’r gyllideb honno i gyflogi athrawon llanw, a fyddai’n rhyddhau athrawon i hyfforddi?
LEAs have been asked to submit their outline spending plans by this week. It is important to reassure schools that LEAs will provide training in the use of whiteboards. Some schools may not be fully aware of that, as the initial catalogue of training for LEAs did not include money for it. However, we insisted upon it and financed it following our whiteboard initiative, to ensure that all pupils in Wales get the best out of that initiative.
Gofynnwyd i’r AALl gyflwyno’u cynlluniau gwario amlinellol erbyn yr wythnos hon. Mae’n bwysig sicrhau’r ysgolion y bydd yr AALl yn darparu hyfforddiant yn y defnydd o fyrddau gwyn. Efallai fod rhai ysgolion nad ydynt yn llwyr ymwybodol o hynny, gan nad oedd y catalog cyntaf o hyfforddiant i AALl yn cynnwys arian ar ei gyfer. Fodd bynnag, gwnaethom fynnu hynny a’i ariannu ar ôl ein menter byrddau gwyn, i sicrhau bod yr holl ddisgyblion yng Nghymru’n cael y gorau o’r fenter honno.
Diogelwch Trafnidiaeth Ysgolion
School Transport Safety
What measures are being taken to improve school transport safety? (OAQ18301)
Pa fesurau sy’n cael eu cymryd i wella diogelwch trafnidiaeth ysgolion? (OAQ18301)
New regulations require that, from 1 October 2001, all new buses, coaches and minibuses—except those designed to carry mainly standing passengers—must be fitted with seat belts. Over time, this should improve the safety of all bus transport, including school bus transport. The new regulations also signal the beginning of the end of the three-for-two concession, which allows three children under 14 years of age to share a double seat.
Mae’r rheoliadau newydd yn mynnu bod rhaid gosod gwregysau sedd ym mhob bws, coets a minibws newydd—ar wahân i’r rhai a gynlluniwyd i gludo teithwyr ar eu sefyll gan mwyaf—o 1 Hydref 2001 ymlaen. Dros amser, fe ddylai hyn wella diogelwch pob trafnidiaeth bws, gan gynnwys trafnidiaeth bws ysgol. Mae’r rheoliadau newydd hefyd yn nodi dechrau’r diwedd i’r goddefiad tri yn lle dau, sy’n caniatáu i dri phlentyn dan 14 mlwydd oed rannu sedd ddwbl.
That is welcome news. Most of us who are familiar with school transport facilities in Wales recognise that progress needs to be made to bring buses up to standard. Parents concerned about safe transport to schools will welcome these new regulations.
Mae hynny’n newydd i’w groesawu. Mae’r rhan fwyaf ohonom sy’n gyfarwydd â chyfleusterau trafnidiaeth ysgol yng Nghymru’n cydnabod bod yn rhaid gwneud cynnydd i godi bysiau at y safon. Bydd y rhieni sy’n bryderus ynghylch trafnidiaeth ddiogel i ysgolion yn croesawu’r rheoliadau newydd hyn.
In about half an hour’s time, I will launch a document, published by the National Association of Council Contract Community Transport Workers, which will help raise the profile of the issue of transporting pupils to and from school safely. It is funded by the Department for Education and Skills, and is about sharing best practice and giving transport operators safety guidance. Many education and social services departments felt that there ought to be a reference guide for determining operational procedures, policies and best practice for local authority transport services, including transporting children with special needs.
Ymhen tua hanner awr, byddaf yn lansio dogfen, a gyhoeddwyd gan Gymdeithas Genedlaethol Gweithwyr Trafnidiaeth Gymunedol dan Gytundeb â Chynghorau, a fydd o gymorth i amlygu mater cludo disgyblion yn ôl ac ymlaen i’r ysgol yn ddiogel. Fe’i hariannwyd gan yr Adran Addysg a Sgiliau, ac mae’n ymwneud â rhannu’r arfer gorau a rhoi canllawiau diogelwch i weithredwyr trafnidiaeth. Yr oedd llawer o adrannau addysg a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol yn teimlo y dylid cael arweiniad cyfeirio i bennu’r gweithdrefnau gweithrediadol, y polisïau a’r arfer gorau ar gyfer gwasanaethau trafnidiaeth awdurdodau lleol, gan gynnwys cludo plant sydd ag anghenion arbennig.
Pa gamau sy’n cael eu cymryd i sicrhau y caiff y rheoliadau newydd eu gweithredu? Ai cyfrifoldeb yr awdurdod lleol neu’r heddlu yw hynny?
What steps are being taken to ensure that the new regulations are implemented? Does the responsibility for that lie with the local authority or the police?
I will have to write to you on that because the responsibility does not lie with me as the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning. All school transport operators are required to run their services in accordance with the requirements of road safety legislation. I will put the question to my colleague, Sue Essex.
Bydd yn rhaid imi ysgrifennu atoch ynghylch hynny gan nad gennyf fi fel y Gweinidog dros Addysg a Dysgu Gydol Oes y mae’r cyfrifoldeb. Mae’n ofynnol i’r holl weithredwyr trafnidiaeth ysgol redeg eu gwasanaethau’n unol â gofynion deddfwriaeth diogelwch ffyrdd. Rhoddaf y cwestiwn i’m cyd-Weinidog, Sue Essex.
Improved seat belt provision on buses is important, and I am sure that you will agree that the Safe Routes to Schools initiative is also important in relation to school children’s safety. Will you express your appreciation and support for the lollipop men and women who help children cross the road every morning, come rain or shine?
Mae gwell darpariaeth o wregysau sedd ar fysiau’n bwysig, ac yr wyf yn siŵr y cytunwch fod y fenter Llwybrau Diogel i’r Ysgol yn bwysig hefyd o ran diogelwch plant ysgol. A wnewch fynegi’ch gwerthfawrogiad a’ch cefnogaeth i’r dynion a’r menywod lolipop sy’n helpu plant i groesi’r ffordd bob bore, boed law neu hindda?
I am happy to express my appreciation of and support for the lollipop men and women of Wales, and to endorse your support for the Safe Routes to Schools programme, for which we doubled the money available this year. This initiative encompasses several Assembly portfolios and encourages the greater use of public transport, walking and cycling. There are now about 22 projects in Wales, covering around 80 schools. That is good news and the programme should be developed further.
Byddaf yn falch o fynegi fy ngwerthfawrogiad a’m cefnogaeth i ddynion a menywod lolipop Cymru, ac o ategu’ch cefnogaeth i’r rhaglen Llwybrau Diogel i’r Ysgol, y gwnaethom ddyblu’r arian ar ei chyfer eleni. Mae’r fenter hon yn cwmpasu sawl portffolio yn y Cynulliad ac yn hybu mwy o ddefnydd o drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, cerdded a beicio. Mae tua 22 prosiect yng Nghymru bellach, sy’n cynnwys tua 80 o ysgolion. Mae hynny’n newyddion da a dylid datblygu’r rhaglen ymhellach.
Do you agree that the work done by Belt Up School Kids and Pat Harris has been instrumental in road safety, and will you consider recommending a reduction in the travelling distance to school which entitles children and young people to free transport?
A ydych yn cytuno bod y gwaith a wnaed gan Belt Up School Kids a Pat Harris wedi bod yn hollbwysig o ran diogelwch ffyrdd, ac a wnewch ystyried argymell gostyngiad yn y pellter teithio i’r ysgol sy’n rhoi hawl i blant a phobl ifanc gael trafnidiaeth am ddim?
No. Local authorities can choose to provide transport at their discretion. Wrexham County Borough Council is the first authority to consider providing yellow school buses. That is an interesting initiative, which would provide highly visible buses, deliberately higher than normal vehicles, containing special padded seats and equipped with lap-top belts, with specially-trained drivers. Children would be picked up at identified points, parents would have a direct phone link to the bus control centre, and full training would be provided. That contrasts dramatically with other arrangements across Wales. I will be interested to see the outcome of Wrexham council’s work.
Na wnaf. Gall awdurdodau lleol ddewis darparu trafnidiaeth yn ôl eu doethineb. Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Wrecsam yw’r awdurdod cyntaf i ystyried darparu bysiau ysgol melyn. Mae honno’n fenter ddiddorol, a ddarparai fysiau tra gweladwy, a fyddai’n fwriadol uwch na cherbydau arferol, ac ynddynt seddau clustogog arbennig a gwregysau arffed, gyda gyrwyr a hyfforddwyd yn arbennig. Byddid yn codi plant mewn mannau penodol, câi’r rhieni gyswllt ffôn uniongyrchol â’r ganolfan rheoli bysiau, a byddid yn darparu hyfforddiant llawn. Mae hynny’n gwrthgyferbynnu’n gryf â threfniadau eraill ledled Cymru. Bydd o ddiddordeb imi weld canlyniad gwaith cyngor Wrecsam.
Pwyntiau o Drefn
Points of Order
Point of order. I raise this under Standing Order No. 6.8, which relates to Cabinet statements. On Tuesday 28 May, I asked the Minister for Rural Affairs and Assembly Business whether the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning intended to make a statement to the Assembly on teachers’ pay. He stated that he was not aware of any such intention, and indeed, on Thursday that week, prior to recess, the Government did not make a statement on teachers’ pay. However, on Friday 31 May, when the Assembly went into recess, and in typical fashion, we received a written statement from the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning on this important topic. It is a serious matter, about which many Assembly Members had raised concerns prior to the statement’s being made, and it should have been dealt with in Plenary.
Pwynt o drefn. Codaf hyn o dan Reol Sefydlog Rhif 6.8, sy’n ymwneud â datganiadau Cabinet. Ddydd Mawrth 28 Mai, gofynnais i’r Gweinidog dros Faterion Gwledig a Threfnydd y Cynulliad a oedd y Gweinidog dros Addysg a Dysgu Gydol Oes yn bwriadu rhoi datganiad i’r Cynulliad ar dâl athrawon. Dywedodd nad oedd yn ymwybodol o unrhyw fwriad o’r fath, ac yn wir, ar ddydd Iau yr wythnos honno, cyn y toriad, ni fu datganiad gan y Llywodraeth ar dâl athrawon. Fodd bynnag, ar ddydd Gwener 31 Mai, ar ddechrau toriad y Cynulliad, ac yn y modd nodweddiadol, cawsom ddatganiad ysgrifenedig gan y Gweinidog dros Addysg a Dysgu Gydol Oes ar y pwnc pwysig hwn. Mae’n fater difrifol, yr oedd llawer o Aelodau Cynulliad wedi mynegi pryderon yn ei gylch cyn gwneud y datganiad, a dylai fod wedi’i drafod yn y Cyfarfod Llawn.
Perhaps the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning should reflect on her statement this afternoon that the Government does not engage in spin, as this event paints a different picture. I seek your guidance, Presiding Officer, on the appropriate use of written and oral statements by Assembly Ministers. Do you agree that statements should be made in Plenary, time permitting?
Efallai y dylai’r Gweinidog dros Addysg a Dysgu Gydol Oes fyfyrio ynghylch ei datganiad y prynhawn yma nad yw’r Llywodraeth yn ymhel â throelli, gan fod y digwyddiad hwn yn rhoi darlun gwahanol. Ceisiaf eich cyfarwyddyd, Lywydd, ar y defnydd priodol o ddatganiadau ysgrifenedig a llafar gan Weinidogion Cynulliad. A ydych yn cytuno y dylid gwneud datganiadau yn y Cyfarfod Llawn, os oes digon o amser?
Dafydd Elis-Thomas The Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 24
Dafydd Elis-Thomas Y Llywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 24
You invite me to agree with a general principle from which I cannot demur, but the timing and making of Government statements is not a matter for me. The Government may make statements in Plenary whenever it wishes to do so, and I always encourage that, but the Government may also choose, for whatever reason, to make statements outside Plenary. [Interruption.] Order. You have taken advantage of your opportunity as a Member to raise a point of order on this matter, which the public and the Government Ministers will have heard.
Yr ydych yn fy ngwahodd i gytuno ag egwyddor gyffredinol na allaf ei gwrthwynebu, ond nid yw amseriad a gwneud datganiadau’r Llywodraeth yn fater i mi. Caiff y Llywodraeth wneud datganiadau yn y Cyfarfod Llawn pryd bynnag y mae’n dymuno gwneud hynny, ac yr wyf bob amser yn annog hynny, ond caiff y Llywodraeth hefyd ddewis gwneud datganiadau y tu allan i’r Cyfarfod Llawn, am ba bynnag reswm. [Torri ar draws.] Trefn. Yr ydych wedi achub ar eich cyfle fel Aelod i godi pwynt o drefn ar y mater hwn, y bydd y cyhoedd a Gweinidogion y Llywodraeth wedi’i glywed.
Point of order. This is a related issue. I tabled a question two months ago to the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, asking for a copy of every publication sent out to schools during the last three years in the Assembly’s name. I realise that it might take time to find a lorry big enough for this, but two months is far too long to wait. In the interests of democracy I would like an answer to that question.
Pwynt o drefn. Mae hyn yn fater cysylltiedig. Cyflwynais gwestiwn ddeufis yn ôl i’r Gweinidog dros Addysg a Dysgu Gydol Oes, yn gofyn am gopi o bob cyhoeddiad a anfonwyd at ysgolion yn ystod y tair blynedd diwethaf yn enw’r Cynulliad. Sylweddolaf y gallai gymryd amser i ddod o hyd i lorri ddigon mawr i wneud hynny, ond mae dau fis yn gyfnod llawer rhy hir i ddisgwyl. Er budd democratiaeth hoffwn gael ateb i’r cwestiwn hwnnw.
Cynnig Trefniadol
Procedural Motion
Carwyn Jones Y Gweinidog dros Faterion Gwledig a Threfnydd y Cynulliad siaradwyd yn Gymraeg t. 25
Carwyn Jones The Minister for Rural Affairs and Assembly Business spoken in Welsh p. 25
Cynigiaf fod
I propose that
Cynnig trefniadol Carwyn Jones t. 25
Procedural motion Carwyn Jones p. 25
DerbyniwydAdopted O blaidFor 32 YmatalAbstain 0 Yn erbynAgainst 0
Derbyniwyd y cynnig.
Motion carried.
Sut y pleidleisiodd yr AelodauHow Members voted
O blaidFor (32)
- Peter Black
- Nick Bourne
- Eleanor Burnham
- Alun Cairns
- Jane Davidson
- David Davies
- Glyn Davies
- Janet Davies
- Jocelyn Davies
- Delyth Evans
- Brian Gibbons
- Janice Gregory
- Alison Halford
- Brian Hancock
- Jane Hutt
- Pauline Jarman
- Carwyn Jones
- Gareth Jones
- Helen Mary Jones
- Peter Law
- David Lloyd
- Val Lloyd
- David Melding
- Tom Middlehurst
- Jonathan Morgan
- Alun Pugh
- Peter Rogers
- Janet Ryder
- Gwenda Thomas
- Owen John Thomas
- Dafydd Wigley
- Kirsty Williams
Ethol i Ganolfan Ewropeaidd Cymru
Election to the Wales European Centre
Carwyn Jones Y Gweinidog dros Faterion Gwledig a Threfnydd y Cynulliad siaradwyd yn Gymraeg t. 26
Carwyn Jones The Minister for Rural Affairs and Assembly Business spoken in Welsh p. 26
Cynigiaf fod
I propose that
Cynnig NNDM1081 Carwyn Jones t. 26
Motion NNDM1081 Carwyn Jones p. 26
DerbyniwydAdopted O blaidFor 33 YmatalAbstain 0 Yn erbynAgainst 0
Derbyniwyd y cynnig.
Motion carried.
Sut y pleidleisiodd yr AelodauHow Members voted
O blaidFor (33)
- Lorraine Barrett
- Peter Black
- Nick Bourne
- Eleanor Burnham
- Alun Cairns
- Jane Davidson
- David Davies
- Glyn Davies
- Janet Davies
- Jocelyn Davies
- Delyth Evans
- Brian Gibbons
- Janice Gregory
- Alison Halford
- Brian Hancock
- Jane Hutt
- Pauline Jarman
- Carwyn Jones
- Gareth Jones
- Helen Mary Jones
- Peter Law
- David Lloyd
- Val Lloyd
- David Melding
- Tom Middlehurst
- Jonathan Morgan
- Alun Pugh
- Peter Rogers
- Janet Ryder
- Gwenda Thomas
- Owen John Thomas
- Dafydd Wigley
- Kirsty Williams
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd i’r Gadair am 2.03 p.m.
The Deputy Presiding Officer took the Chair at 2.03 p.m.
Y Strategaeth i Ofalwyr
The Carers’ Strategy
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 27
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 27
I have selected amendments 1 and 2 in the name of Jocelyn Davies, and amendment 3 in the name of Jonathan Morgan.
Yr wyf wedi dethol gwelliannau 1 a 2 yn enw Jocelyn Davies a gwelliant 3 yn enw Jonathan Morgan.
Jane Hutt The Minister for Health and Social Services spoken in English p. 27
Jane Hutt Y Gweinidog dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 27
I propose that
Cynigiaf fod
Jane Hutt The Minister for Health and Social Services (continued) spoken in English p. 27
Jane Hutt Y Gweinidog dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol (parhad) siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 27
I am pleased to propose this motion. This week is Carers’ Week, which is an important week for paying tribute nationally and locally to carers, and for celebrating the important role of the 350,000 carers in Wales. The General Household Survey published yesterday stated that the number of carers in Wales is rising and could be about 423,000; I am sure that that is still an underestimate.
Yr wyf yn falch o gynnig y cynnig hwn. Wythnos y Gofalwyr yw’r wythnos hon, ac mae’n wythnos bwysig i dalu teyrnged yn genedlaethol ac yn lleol i ofalwyr, ac i ddathlu rôl bwysig y 350,000 o ofalwyr yng Nghymru. Yn yr Arolwg Aelwydydd Cyffredinol a gyhoeddwyd ddoe nodir bod nifer y gofalwyr yng Nghymru ar gynnydd ac y gallai fod tua 423,000; yr wyf yn sicr bod hynny’n amcangyfrif rhy isel o hyd.
The Assembly agrees on the need to support carers in their caring role and I am pleased to support the three amendments to the motion in the constructive spirit in which they are offered. I will address each of them later.
Mae’r Cynulliad yn cytuno ar yr angen i gynorthwyo gofalwyr yn eu rôl gofalu ac yr wyf yn falch o gefnogi’r tri gwelliant i’r cynnig yn yr un ysbryd adeiladol ag y’u cynigir. Ymdriniaf â phob un ohonynt yn ddiweddarach.
I am pleased to report that today we are publishing the second report of the carers’ strategy implementation plan, ‘Caring about Carers’. Copies of the report are being made available to all Members and are available in the Library, on the intranet and on the carers’ website. My foreword to the report emphasises that a key aim was to ensure that improving carers’ health and wellbeing is integral to other Welsh Assembly Government policies and programmes. Therefore, Jocelyn’s second amendment is relevant.
Yr wyf yn falch o adrodd ein bod heddiw’n cyhoeddi ail adroddiad cynllun gweithredu’r strategaeth i ofalwyr, ‘Gofalu am Ofalwyr’. Darperir copïau o’r adroddiad i’r holl Aelodau ac mae ar gael yn y Llyfrgell, ar y fewnrwyd ac ar wefan y gofalwyr. Mae fy rhagair i’r adroddiad yn pwysleisio mai un nod allweddol oedd sicrhau bod gwella iechyd a lles gofalwyr yn rhan annatod o bolisïau a rhaglenni eraill Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru. Felly, mae ail welliant Jocelyn yn berthnasol.
‘The Strategy for Carers in Wales—The Implementation Plan’ was one of the Welsh Assembly Government’s earliest initiatives. The overarching objective of the implementation plan is to improve the health and wellbeing of carers in Wales and of those for whom they care. The plan is built around five main priority areas: health and social care; information; support; young carers; and carers and employment. In line with my commitment to reviewing progress and monitoring the plan annually, we discussed the first report of the implementation plan last year in Plenary. That gave an account of the previous year’s progress and outlined the programme of work for this year. The second report, published today, highlights the past year’s achievements and outlines an ambitious work programme for 2002 and beyond.
‘Y Strategaeth i Ofalwyr yng Nghymru—Y Cynllun Gweithredu’ oedd un o fentrau cynharaf Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru. Amcan cyffredinol y cynllun gweithredu yw gwella iechyd a lles gofalwyr yng Nghymru a’r rhai y maent yn gofalu amdanynt. Mae’r cynllun yn seiliedig ar bum prif faes blaenoriaeth: iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol; gwybodaeth; cymorth; gofalwyr ifanc; a gofalwyr a chyflogaeth. Yn unol â’m hymrwymiad i adolygu’r cynnydd a monitro’r cynllun bob blwyddyn, gwnaethom drafod adroddiad cyntaf y cynllun gweithredu y llynedd yn y Cyfarfod Llawn. Cafwyd disgrifiad ynddo o’r cynnydd yn y flwyddyn flaenorol ac amlinelliad o’r rhaglen waith ar gyfer eleni. Mae’r ail adroddiad, a gyhoeddir heddiw, yn tynnu sylw at gyflawniadau’r flwyddyn a aeth heibio ac yn disgrifio rhaglen waith uchelgeisiol ar gyfer 2002 ac wedyn.
A significant step forward in regard to progress was the approval last year by the Assembly of regulations to implement the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 from 1 July 2001. That legislation allows for carers, for the first time, to receive services in their own right. Local authorities, working with carers and their organisations, have taken the opportunities offered by the legislation and have used the resources provided by our carers’ special grant to increase service and support provision and to develop a more diverse range of services to directly benefit carers. I was delighted that we were also able to make available some £3.1 million of additional resources for local authorities to undertake assessments in this respect.
Un cam mawr ymlaen o ran y cynnydd oedd y gymeradwyaeth gan y Cynulliad y llynedd i’r rheoliadau i weithredu’r Ddeddf Gofalwyr a Phlant Anabl 2000 o 1 Gorffennaf 2001. Mae’r ddeddfwriaeth honno yn caniatáu, am y tro cyntaf, i ofalwyr gael gwasanaethau drwy eu hawl eu hunain. Mae’r awdurdodau lleol, drwy weithio gyda’r gofalwyr a’u mudiadau, wedi achub ar y cyfleoedd y mae’r ddeddfwriaeth yn eu cynnig ac wedi defnyddio’r adnoddau a ddarparwyd gan ein grant arbennig i ofalwyr i ddarparu rhagor o wasanaethau a chymorth ac i ddatblygu amrediad mwy amrywiol o wasanaethau i ddod â budd uniongyrchol i ofalwyr. Yr oeddwn wrth fy modd ein bod hefyd yn gallu darparu tua £3.1 miliwn o adnoddau ychwanegol i awdurdodau lleol gynnal asesiadau mewn cysylltiad â hynny.
My report to the Health and Social Services Committee in February outlined the sound evidence based on the improvements that these changes and the wider strategy are making to carers’ lives across Wales. Local authorities, service providers and carers are together seeking to maximise the opportunities offered by the changes to meet their local needs. The report also outlined measures to record and collect information on carers’ assessments as part of local authorities’ performance management programme development and my commitment to report back to the Committee by the autumn on outcomes from an all-Wales study on carers’ assessments. Jonathan Morgan’s amendment 3 reflects what we are already doing.
Yn fy adroddiad i’r Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol yn Chwefror amlinellwyd y dystiolaeth gadarn sy’n seiliedig ar y gwelliannau y mae’r newidiadau hyn a’r strategaeth ehangach yn eu gwneud i fywydau gofalwyr ledled Cymru. Gyda’i gilydd, mae’r awdurdodau lleol, y darparwyr gwasanaethau a’r gofalwyr yn ceisio amlhau’r cyfleoedd a gynigir gan y newidiadau i ddiwallu eu hanghenion lleol. Yr oedd yr adroddiad hefyd yn amlinellu’r mesurau i gofnodi a chasglu gwybodaeth am asesiadau gofalwyr fel rhan o waith yr awdurdodau lleol o ddatblygu eu rhaglen rheoli perfformiad, a’m hymrwymiad i adrodd yn ôl i’r Pwyllgor erbyn yr hydref ar ganlyniadau astudiaeth Cymru-gyfan ar asesiadau gofalwyr. Mae gwelliant 3 Jonathan Morgan yn adlewyrchu’r hyn yr ydym yn ei wneud eisoes.
In addition to implementing the provisions of the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000, I will briefly mention progress made in other areas. Recently, I agreed local authority plans for £4.6 million in carers’ special grants for 2002-03. Local authority plans to support carers are now a key part of the social services planning processes. This money is in addition to support to carers through mainstream programmes, integrating the needs of carers into the development of other policies and programmes to ensure that their needs are addressed across all policy boundaries. It provides the commitment to long term support, which Plaid Cymru urges in amendment 1.
Yn ogystal â gweithredu darpariaethau’r Ddeddf Gofalwyr a Phlant Anabl 2000, soniaf yn fyr am y cynnydd a wnaed mewn meysydd eraill. Yn ddiweddar, cytunais ar gynlluniau awdurdodau lleol ar gyfer £4.6 miliwn o grantiau arbennig i ofalwyr ar gyfer 2002-03. Mae cynlluniau’r awdurdodau lleol i gynorthwyo gofalwyr yn rhan allweddol bellach o’r prosesau cynllunio gwasanaethau cymdeithasol. Mae’r arian hwn yn ychwanegol at y cymorth i ofalwyr drwy raglenni prif ffrwd, ac yn integreiddio anghenion gofalwyr â datblygiad polisïau a rhaglenni eraill i sicrhau sylw i’w hanghenion ar draws yr holl ffiniau polisi. Mae’n darparu’r ymrwymiad i gymorth tymor hir, y mae Plaid Cymru’n pwyso amdano yng ngwelliant 1.
On information, the all-Wales publicity campaign to raise awareness of carers and to inform carers of their new rights under the 2000 Act last autumn was a milestone. The campaign targeted adult and young carers and cared-for people. Extensive coverage was given in the press and on radio, and the new National Assembly carers website was launched. Last autumn, young carers were the focus of a major Assembly conference that considered the outcomes from two important studies and proposed an action plan for engaging young carers and raising awareness in schools and other key areas of their lives. Young carers had an active role in the conference and designed the young carers’ information leaflet and the campaign logo. Many young carers projects are now developing as a result of the special grant in local authority areas.
Ynghylch gwybodaeth, yr oedd yr ymgyrch gyhoeddusrwydd i Gymru gyfan i hybu ymwybyddiaeth o ofalwyr ac i hysbysu gofalwyr am eu hawliau newydd o dan Ddeddf 2000 yr hydref diwethaf yn garreg filltir. Yr oedd yr ymgyrch yn targedu gofalwyr ifanc a gofalwyr mewn oed a rhai sy’n derbyn gofal. Cafwyd sylw helaeth yn y wasg ac ar y radio, a lansiwyd gwefan newydd y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol i ofalwyr. Yr hydref diwethaf, gofalwyr ifanc a gafodd y prif sylw mewn cynhadledd bwysig gan y Cynulliad a ystyriodd ganlyniadau dwy astudiaeth bwysig a chynnig cynllun gweithredu i gynnwys gofalwyr ifanc a hybu ymwybyddiaeth mewn ysgolion ac mewn meysydd allweddol eraill yn eu bywydau. Yr oedd rôl weithredol i’r gofalwyr ifanc yn y gynhadledd a hwy a gynlluniodd y daflen wybodaeth i ofalwyr ifanc a logo’r ymgyrch. Mae llawer o brosiectau gofalwyr ifanc yn datblygu’n awr o ganlyniad i’r grant arbennig yn ardaloedd yr awdurdodau lleol.
Early research provided us with a sound baseline on the types of carers’ services provided and needed. We are building on this baseline from a variety of sources and are commissioning a major, wide-ranging qualitative research study to identify remaining gaps. The partnership underpinned in ‘Improving Health in Wales’ has resulted in carers having a voice on each local health board so that they play a full role in shaping health and wellbeing strategies and to ensure that local plans take full account of carers’ needs. I am glad to announce today that Carers Wales is helping us with an open and transparent process of selecting and appointing carers to serve on each local health board, to be completed by October.
Cawsom wybodaeth sylfaenol ddibynadwy o’r ymchwil cynnar ar y mathau o wasanaethau i ofalwyr sy’n cael eu darparu ac sydd eu hangen. Yr ydym yn adeiladu ar y sylfaen honno o amryw o ffynonellau ac yn comisiynu astudiaeth ymchwil ansoddol gynhwysfawr bwysig i ganfod unrhyw fylchau. O ganlyniad i’r bartneriaeth a sefydlwyd yn ‘Gwella Iechyd yng Nghymru’, mae gan y gofalwyr lais ar bob bwrdd iechyd lleol fel y gallant chwarae rôl lawn wrth ffurfio strategaethau iechyd a lles a sicrhau bod y cynlluniau lleol yn rhoi ystyriaeth lawn i anghenion gofalwyr. Yr wyf yn falch o gyhoeddi heddiw fod Gofalwyr Cymru’n ein helpu â phroses agored a thryloyw o ddethol a phenodi gofalwyr i wasanaethu ar bob bwrdd iechyd lleol, sydd i’w chwblhau erbyn mis Hydref.
The second report sets out a work programme for 2002 and thereafter. This includes developing direct payment schemes to include vouchers. This could include a much simpler way to empower carers to choose when to take breaks, and who provides break services. This year we will focus on services and support for people who care for black and minority ethnic communities. Many of these communities are first and second generation residents in Wales. Many elderly, frail people may feel vulnerable and isolated, and we must respect cultural differences and reach out to these communities. Like young carers, they present a unique set of needs. I have mentioned the work that we are taking forward, and we must ensure that programmes recognise the difficulties that young carers need to overcome. Protocols and support are in place.
Mae’r ail adroddiad yn nodi rhaglen waith ar gyfer 2002 ac wedyn. Mae hyn yn cynnwys datblygu cynlluniau talu uniongyrchol sydd i gynnwys talebau. Gallai hynny gynnwys dull symlach o lawer o alluogi gofalwyr i ddewis pryd y byddant yn cymryd seibiant, a phwy sy’n darparu gwasanaethau yn ystod seibiant. Eleni byddwn yn canolbwyntio ar wasanaethau a chymorth i bobl sy’n gofalu mewn cymunedau croenddu a lleiafrifol ethnig. Mae llawer yn y cymunedau hyn yn drigolion o’r genhedlaeth gyntaf a’r ail genhedlaeth yng Nghymru. Gall llawer o bobl oedrannus fregus deimlo’n unig ac yn agored i niwed, a rhaid inni barchu gwahaniaethau diwylliannol ac estyn llaw i’r cymunedau hyn. Fel y gofalwyr ifanc, mae ganddynt set unigryw o anghenion. Yr wyf wedi sôn am y gwaith yr ydym yn ei ddatblygu, a rhaid inni sicrhau bod rhaglenni’n cydnabod yr anawsterau y mae’n rhaid i ofalwyr ifanc eu goresgyn. Mae protocolau a chymorth ar waith.
Yesterday, Edwina Hart launched the new Ace project—Action for Carers and Employment. Ace will overcome the barriers that carers face at work, and support carers returning to the labour market. Two of the seven partnership projects will operate in Wales—in Ynys Môn and Carmarthenshire. Much has been achieved. There is still more to do, but the most important achievement will be putting the wellbeing of carers firmly at the top of the Assembly’s agenda.
Ddoe, lansiodd Edwina Hart y prosiect Ace newydd—Gweithredu dros Ofalwyr a Chyflogaeth. Bydd Ace yn trechu’r rhwystrau y mae gofalwyr yn eu hwynebu yn eu gwaith, ac yn cynorthwyo gofalwyr sy’n dychwelyd i’r farchnad lafur. Bydd dau o’r saith prosiect partneriaeth yn gweithredu yng Nghymru—yn Ynys Môn ac yn sir Gaerfyrddin. Mae llawer wedi’i gyflawni. Mae llawer i’w wneud eto, ond y cyflawniad pwysicaf fydd rhoi lles gofalwyr yn bendant ar ben agenda’r Cynulliad.
Cynigiaf y gwelliannau canlynol yn enw Jocelyn Davies. Gwelliant 1: ychwanegu ar ddiwedd pwynt 3:
I propose the following amendments in the name of Jocelyn Davies. Amendment 1: add at the end of point 3:
Cynigiaf welliant 2. Ychwanegu pwynt newydd ar ddiwedd y cynnig:
I propose amendment 2. Add as a new point at the end of motion:
Datganaf fy muddiant arferol fel meddyg teulu a chynghorydd sir. Yng nghyd-destun y ddadl hon, datganaf fuddiant hefyd fel is-gadeirydd Crossroads—Caring for Carers, Abertawe a Chastell-nedd Port Talbot, ac fel is-lywydd Cymdeithas Alzheimer, Abertawe.
I declare my usual interest as a general practitioner and a county councillor. In the context of this debate, I also declare an interest as the vice-chair of Crossroads—Caring for Carers in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot, and as the vice-president of the Alzheimer’s Society, Swansea.
Croesawaf y ddadl hon ar ofalwyr. Yr wyf yn ddiolchgar bod y Llywodraeth yn cefnogi ein gwelliannau. Talaf deyrnged i gyfraniad allweddol gofalwyr ledled Cymru. Maent yn aml yn darparu gofal dan amgylchiadau dyrys; mae nifer yn teimlo nad oes digon o gefnogaeth iddynt ac mae nifer yn dioddef o ran iechyd neu yn ariannol yn sgîl eu rôl fel gofalwyr. Dyma’r hyn a ysgogodd ddatblygiad y strategaeth i ofalwyr a’r ariannu angenrheidiol ar ei chyfer. Ei phwrpas yw darparu cymorth a chefnogaeth drwy ofal ysbeidiol, llinellau ffôn cymorth, darparu gwybodaeth am wasanaethau, budd-daliadau a gweithio oriau hyblyg a nifer o syniadau atyniadol eraill i gefnogi gofalwyr.
I welcome this debate on carers and I am grateful that the Government supports our amendments. I pay tribute to the key contribution made by carers throughout Wales. They often provide care in difficult circumstances; many feel that the support available to them is insufficient, and many suffer illhealth or financial problems as a result of their roles as carers. That is what prompted the development of the carers’ strategy and the provision of adequate funding for it. Its purpose is to provide care and support through respite care, telephone helplines, providing information about services, benefits and flexible working hours and many other attractive ideas to support carers.
Mae gofalwyr yn aml yn teimlo eu bod ar eu pennau eu hunain, a’u bod yn gorfod ymladd yn erbyn pawb a phopeth i gael cymorth. Maent hefyd yn dioddef blinder affwysol yn sgîl gweithio heb ysbaid. Ni ddylai hyn ddigwydd bellach; mae cymorth ar gael o sawl ffynhonnell. Rhaid inni sicrhau bod gofalwyr a darpar ofalwyr—dyna ydym oll—yn gwybod sut i gael cymorth, pa gymorth sydd ar gael, ym mhle y mae ar gael a beth yw’r darpariaethau lleol. Yn aml, mae’r broses o gael gafael ar y wybodaeth yn gymhleth a dryslyd, yn enwedig i ofalwyr sy’n heneiddio. Clywais am broblemau o ganlyniad i nifer yr asesiadau gofalwyr a’r oedi. Problem arall yw nad yw pobl wedi clywed am yr asesiadau hyn.
Carers often feel isolated, and that they have to overcome all sorts of obstacles in order to get help. They also suffer exhaustion as a result of working without respite. This should no longer be the case; help is now available from many sources. We must ensure that carers and prospective carers—which we all are—know how to access help, what help is available, where it is available and what the local provisions are. Often, the process of accessing information is complicated and confusing, especially for ageing carers. I have been told of problems as a result of the number of carer assessments and delays. Another problem is that people are not aware of these assessments.
Yn ogystal, pan fo angen cymorth ychwanegol ar ofalwyr, rhaid iddo fod o ansawdd uchel, yn ddibynadwy a chan rai sydd wedi’u hyfforddi yn y sgiliau angenrheidiol, megis sut i godi rhywun, fel y gallant wneud y gwaith yn ddiogel.
Also, when carers need additional help, it must be of a high quality, reliable and provided by individuals who have been trained in the necessary skills, such as how to lift someone, so that they can work safely.
Mae mudiadau megis Crossroads—Caring for Carers a Chymdeithas Alzheimer yn pryderu am ariannu yn y tymor hir. Dyna’r ysgogiad ar gyfer gwelliant 1. Yn nyddiau cynnar y grant arbennig i ofalwyr, yr oedd enghreifftiau o oedi cyn derbyn yr arian oddi wrth yr awdurdodau lleol. Erys pryderon ynglŷn â mecanwaith y Cynulliad ar gyfer monitro sut y mae awdurdodau lleol yn ymdrin â’r arian ar gyfer gofalwyr. Pwy sy’n adolygu perfformiad awdurdodau lleol? Beth all y sector gwirfoddol ei wneud os ydyw’n anhapus â pherfformiad unrhyw awdurdod lleol?
Organisations such as Crossroads—Caring for Carers and the Alzheimer’s Society are concerned about their long-term funding. That is what prompted amendment 1. In the early days of the carers’ special grant, there were instances of delays in payments by local authorities. Concerns remain about the Assembly’s mechanism for monitoring how local authorities deal with funding for carers. Who reviews local authorities’ performance? What can the voluntary sector do if it is not content with the performance of a local authority?
Fel cynghorydd sir, gwn am nifer helaeth o enghreifftiau o waith clodwiw yn y maes hwn gan awdurdodau lleol. Mae’r gwaith hwn yn cynnwys darparu llinellau cymorth a gwybodaeth, darparu cefnogaeth benodol, trefnu digwyddiadau i hybu bwriadau’r strategaeth, a datblygu gwasanaethau i grwpiau arbenigol.
As a county councillor, I know of numerous examples of exemplary work by local authorities in this field. This work includes providing telephone help and information lines, providing specific support, organising events to promote the strategy’s aims, and developing services for specialist groups.
Gwneir llawer o waith da i gefnogi cyfraniad aruthrol gofalwyr ar draws Cymru. Fodd bynnag, dyddiau cynnar yw hi o hyd. Erys sialens sylweddol i ateb gofynion gofalwyr yng Nghymru. Edrychwn ymlaen a chroesawn nifer helaeth o ddatblygiadau cyffrous yn y maes hanfodol hwn.
Much good work is being done to support the huge contribution made by carers throughout Wales. However, it is still early days. A considerable challenge remains to meet the requirements of carers in Wales. We look forward to and welcome the numerous exciting developments in this vital area.
I propose amendment 3 in the name of Jonathan Morgan. Add as a new point at the end of motion:
Cynigiaf welliant 3 yn enw Jonathan Morgan. Ychwanegu pwynt newydd ar ddiwedd y cynnig:
I thank the Minister for her constructive remarks, and for supporting our amendment. We will support Plaid Cymru’s amendments. This is one of those pleasant debates where everyone is in agreement and where we need only emphasise certain points. Much progress is being made in terms of carers. The Government has had a good year; it has been responsive to many of the issues raised and has been keen to build on good work. The Minister was right to start by referring to the general household survey, which shows an increase in the number of carers in Britain and, therefore, in Wales. About 16 per cent of the adult population are carers. That is an astonishing figure, showing people’s commitment to the care and welfare of their relatives and friends.
Diolchaf i’r Gweinidog am ei sylwadau adeiladol, ac am gefnogi ein gwelliant. Byddwn yn cefnogi gwelliannau Plaid Cymru. Mae hon yn un o’r dadleuon dymunol hynny lle y mae pawb yn gytûn a lle nad oes ond angen inni bwysleisio rhai pwyntiau. Gwneir llawer o gynnydd o ran gofalwyr. Cafodd y Llywodraeth flwyddyn dda; ymatebodd i lawer o’r materion a godwyd a bu’n awyddus i ddatblygu gwaith da. Yr oedd y Gweinidog yn iawn wrth ddechrau drwy gyfeirio at yr arolwg cyffredinol o aelwydydd, sy’n dangos cynnydd yn nifer y gofalwyr ym Mhrydain ac, felly, yng Nghymru. Mae tua 16 y cant o’r boblogaeth o oedolion yn ofalwyr. Mae hwnnw’n ffigur syfrdanol, sy’n dangos ymrwymiad pobl i ofal a lles eu perthnasau a’u ffrindiau.
To concentrate on one figure, something like 140,000 of all carers in Wales become carers for the first time in any one year. That is an awful lot of people who need support, advice and information. That should be provided as soon as they become carers, or even just before, if that can be foreseen. They can then get the best possible advice on benefits, on how to combine work and other commitments with a caring role, whether they should give up employment or try to remain employed—which is often the best advice. When we consider the structure of services to support carers across Wales, we should remember that many people become carers for the first time in any week, month or day.
Gan ganolbwyntio ar un ffigur, mae tua 140,000 o’r holl ofalwyr yng Nghymru yn dod yn ofalwyr am y tro cyntaf mewn unrhyw flwyddyn. Mae honno’n nifer aruthrol o bobl sydd ag angen cymorth, cyngor a gwybodaeth. Dylid darparu hynny cyn gynted ag y deuant yn ofalwyr, neu ychydig ynghynt hyd yn oed, os gellir rhagweld hynny. Wedyn gallant gael y cyngor gorau posibl ar fudd-daliadau, ar y modd i gyfuno gwaith ac ymrwymiadau eraill â’r rôl gofalu, a ddylent roi’r gorau i’w gwaith neu geisio aros yn eu gwaith—sef y cyngor gorau’n aml. Pan ystyriwn strwythur y gwasanaethau i gynorthwyo gofalwyr ledled Cymru, dylem gofio bod llawer o bobl yn dod yn ofalwyr am y tro cyntaf bob wythnos, mis neu ddiwrnod.
I join the Minister in welcoming the new initiative, sponsored by Carers Wales and other partner organisations, to support carers in work. It builds on the pioneering work undertaken by Centrica in the private sector, and has also been rolled out among public agencies. It is a key element of the carers’ strategy, because many people will have to combine caring with paid employment—it is appropriate that they do so. They probably lead more balanced lives as a result, and should expect a level of support from public agencies and the Assembly.
Ymunaf â’r Gweinidog i groesawu’r fenter newydd, a noddir gan Gofalwyr Cymru a phartner gyrff eraill, i gynorthwyo gofalwyr yn eu gwaith. Mae’n adeiladu ar sail y gwaith arloesol a wnaeth Centrica yn y sector preifat, ac fe’i datblygwyd hefyd yn yr asiantaethau cyhoeddus. Mae’n elfen allweddol yn y strategaeth i ofalwyr, gan y bydd llawer o bobl yn gorfod cyfuno gofalu â chyflogaeth—mae’n briodol eu bod yn gwneud hynny. Mae’n debygol eu bod yn byw bywyd mwy cytbwys o ganlyniad, a dylent ddisgwyl lefel benodol o gymorth oddi wrth yr asiantaethau cyhoeddus a’r Cynulliad.
The health sector is crucial in supporting carers. Much work has been done, and I welcome the fact that carers will sit on local health boards—a real achievement. When that amendment was proposed, the Government graciously supported it as something that would help carers achieve goals that will help them to live more balanced lives.
Mae’r sector iechyd yn hollbwysig o ran cynorthwyo gofalwyr. Gwnaed llawer o waith, a chroesawaf y ffaith y bydd gofalwyr yn eistedd ar y byrddau iechyd lleol—llwyddiant gwirioneddol. Pan gynigiwyd y gwelliant hwnnw, rhoddodd y Llywodaeth ei chefnogaeth hael iddo fel rhywbeth a helpai ofalwyr i gyflawni nodau a fydd yn eu helpu i fyw bywyd mwy cytbwys.
This morning, I met someone from the Parkinson’s Disease Society, who reminded me that around 6,000 people suffer from that condition in Wales, most of them are also reliant on carers to manage their condition daily. Support and information is needed immediately and throughout the duration of their illness; it is crucial. The best place to get that is usually from their GP surgery or practice nurse.
Y bore yma, cyfarfûm â rhywun o Gymdeithas Clefyd Parkinson, a wnaeth fy atgoffa bod tua 6,000 o bobl yn dioddef gan y cyflwr hwnnw yng Nghymru, ac mae’r rhan fwyaf ohonynt yn ddibynnol hefyd ar ofalwyr i reoli eu cyflwr bob dydd. Mae angen cymorth a gwybodaeth ar unwaith a drwy gydol eu salwch; mae’n hollbwysig. Y lle gorau i gael hynny fel arfer yw ym meddygfa eu meddyg teulu neu gan nyrs y practis.
I am pleased that the Minister for Rural Affairs and Assembly Business has allowed an hour’s debate for the second report—
Yr wyf yn falch bod y Gweinidog dros Faterion Gwledig a Threfnydd y Cynulliad wedi caniatáu awr o ddadl ar gyfer yr ail adroddiad—
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 34
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 34
Order. The Minister for Rural Affairs and Assembly Business does not allow any debate here. The Presiding Officer decides such matters.
Trefn. Nid yw’r Gweinidog dros Faterion Gwledig a Threfnydd y Cynulliad yn caniatáu yr un ddadl yma. Y Llywydd sy’n penderfynu materion o’r fath.
It is appropriate for you to pick me up on that. I am pleased that the Minister for Rural Affairs and Assembly Business recommended that an hour’s debate be allowed, and I hope that it will become an annual event. Carers’ numbers are increasing. They play an essential role in society, and we must improve our ways of supporting them. Work is in progress and must be continued.
Mae’n briodol ichi fy nghywiro ar hynny. Yr wyf yn falch bod y Gweinidog dros Faterion Gwledig a Threfnydd y Cynulliad wedi argymell caniatáu awr o ddadl, a gobeithiaf y bydd yn dod yn ddigwyddiad blynyddol. Mae niferoedd y gofalwyr ar gynnydd. Maent yn chwarae rôl hollbwysig mewn cymdeithas, a rhaid inni wella ein dulliau o’u cynorthwyo. Mae gwaith ar y gweill a rhaid iddo barhau.
I am pleased that we will improve data on the number of carers’ assessments, which is important. We need some measure of how local authorities are recording carers’ assessments, and how they are taking forward the crucial carers’ support for which they are responsible.
Yr wyf yn falch y byddwn yn gwella’r data ar nifer yr asesiadau gofalwyr, gan fod hynny’n bwysig. Mae arnom angen mesur o’r modd y mae’r awdurdodau lleol yn cofnodi asesiadau gofalwyr, a sut y maent yn bwrw ymlaen â’r cymorth hollbwysig i ofalwyr y maent yn gyfrifol amdano.
To conclude, respite care is important to carers. I know that we have heard this in many debates, but it is appropriate that we revisit the matter. My one special plea—which results from my visits undertaken for the Health and Social Services Committee’s work on healthcare for young children—is that we spend more time on the issue of parent carers of children under five years old with severe disabilities, who get less support and respite care than any other carer. That is perverse, and is a particular problem with childcare.
I gloi, mae gofal seibiant yn bwysig i ofalwyr. Gwn ein bod wedi clywed hynny mewn llawer o ddadleuon, ond mae’n briodol inni ailystyried y mater. Yr unig apêl arbennig sydd gennyf—sy’n ganlyniad i’m hymweliadau ar gyfer gwaith y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol ar ofal iechyd i bobl ifanc—yw y dylem dreulio mwy o amser ar rieni sy’n ofalwyr i blant dan bum mlwydd oed sydd ag anableddau difrifol, sy’n cael llai o gymorth a gofal seibiant nag unrhyw ofalwyr eraill. Mae hynny’n wrthnysig, ac mae’n broblem benodol ynghylch gofal plant.
I concur with the comments made by Dai Lloyd and David Melding in commending another successful year of driving the carers’ agenda forward. The Assembly should be justifiably proud of how far it has come in a relatively short time, in identifying carers’ contribution to our society, and putting the strategy in place to help them continue their caring responsibilities. Many people want to continue caring; it is their choice. They just need support to enable them to carry out their caring responsibilities.
Yr wyf yn cyd-fynd â sylwadau Dai Lloyd a David Melding wrth ganmol blwyddyn lwyddiannus arall o hyrwyddo’r agenda gofalwyr. Mae’n briodol i’r Cynulliad ymfalchïo yn y cynnydd a wnaeth mewn cyfnod cymharol fyr, wrth ddynodi cyfraniad gofalwyr i’n cymdeithas, a rhoi’r strategaeth ar waith i’w helpu i barhau â’u cyfrifoldebau gofalu. Mae llawer am barhau i ofalu; eu dewis yw hynny. Y cwbl y mae arnynt ei angen yw cymorth i’w galluogi i gyflawni eu cyfrifoldebau gofalu.
On carer representation on local health boards, I agree wholeheartedly with David. This is a positive step forward in allowing carers’ voices to be heard in the commissioning, planning and, in some cases, delivery of healthcare services within communities. My only plea to the Minister is for further details of how those representatives will be supported in that environment because, although they will have personal experience of accessing and receiving services, it could be intimidating for them to articulate their views and get their point of view across when faced with an array of professional individuals who work within the service. We should also consider the ability of carers to attend meetings, because active carers will need the provision of respite care. We need further details on how this important appointment to the local health board will work.
Ynghylch y gynrychiolaeth i ofalwyr ar y byrddau iechyd lleol, yr wyf yn cytuno’n llwyr â David. Mae hwn yn gam cadarnhaol o ran rhoi gwrandawiad i lais y gofalwyr wrth gomisiynu, cynllunio ac, mewn rhai achosion, darparu gwasanaethau gofal iechyd mewn cymunedau. Yr unig apêl sydd gennyf i’r Gweinidog yw am fanylion pellach am y dull o gynorthwyo’r cynrychiolwyr hynny yn yr amgylchedd hwnnw oherwydd, er y bydd ganddynt brofiad personol o gyrraedd a derbyn gwasanaethau, gallai godi ofn arnynt pan ydynt yn mynegi ac yn cyfleu eu barn a hwythau’n wynebu rhes o unigolion proffesiynol sy’n gweithio yn y gwasanaeth. Dylem hefyd ystyried gallu gofalwyr i fynychu cyfarfodydd, gan y bydd ar ofalwyr gweithredol angen darpariaeth gofal seibiant. Mae arnom angen manylion pellach am y modd y bydd y penodiad pwysig hwn i’r bwrdd iechyd lleol yn gweithio.
We must be vigilant with regard to local government’s performance in relation to carers’ assessments, as councils across Wales have been slow to offer carers’ assessments. Well-informed carers, who are aware of their rights, can inquire, but local authorities seem to be slow in actively informing carers that they are entitled to an assessment of individual needs, and that the local authority will act upon that. We must examine the level to which local authorities implement carers’ assessments, and ensure that the identified services are then delivered. Although it is a statutory responsibility to deliver these services, we know that people who are cared for do not always receive the services they need, let alone the carers.
Rhaid inni fod yn wyliadwrus ynghylch perfformiad llywodraeth leol mewn cysylltiad ag asesiadau gofalwyr, gan y bu cynghorau ledled Cymru’n araf wrth gynnig asesiadau gofalwyr. Mae gofalwyr gwybodus, sy’n ymwybodol o’u hawliau, yn gallu gwneud ymholiadau, ond mae’n ymddangos bod yr awdurdodau lleol yn araf wrth hysbysu gofalwyr yn weithredol fod ganddynt hawl i gael asesiad o’u hanghenion unigol, ac y bydd yr awdurdod lleol yn gweithredu ar sail hynny. Rhaid inni gael gwybod i ba raddau y mae’r awdurdodau lleol yn gweithredu asesiadau gofalwyr, a sicrhau bod y gwasanaethau a ddynodir yn cael eu darparu wedyn. Er bod darparu’r gwasanaethau hynny’n gyfrifoldeb statudol, gwyddom nad yw pobl sy’n derbyn gofal bob amser yn derbyn y gwasanaethau y mae arnynt eu hangen, heb sôn am y gofalwyr.
Moving towards a voucher scheme and giving carers a level of independence and choice in their ability to purchase services is to be welcomed. However, the direct payment scheme currently available to disabled people throughout Wales is another area that is not being fully utilised by many local authorities. In Cardiff and the Vale, the direct payment scheme is supported by the Cardiff and Vale Coalition of Disabled People, which provides the framework to support people who choose the direct payment option. However, this is a rare example. In my county of Powys, the people who receive direct payment have no support whatsoever; in fact, their expenditure has not been monitored for the last three years, and they could be spending it on anything they want. That lack of support inhibits the ability of some people to apply for the direct payment scheme because purchasing your own services is a big departure from receiving them. People must be given support so that they have the confidence to pursue this avenue of care.
Mae’r camau tuag at gynllun talebau ac at roi rhywfaint o annibyniaeth a dewis i ofalwyr o ran eu gallu i brynu gwasanaethau i’w croesawu. Fodd bynnag, mae’r cynllun talu uniongyrchol sydd ar gael ar hyn o bryd i bobl anabl ledled Cymru’n faes arall nad yw’n cael ei ddefnyddio’n llawn gan lawer o awdurdodau lleol. Yng Nghaerdydd a’r Fro, cefnogir y cynllun talu uniongyrchol gan Gynghrair Pobl Anabl Caerdydd a’r Fro, sy’n darparu’r fframwaith i gynorthwyo pobl sy’n dewis talu uniongyrchol. Fodd bynnag, enghraifft brin yw honno. Ym Mhowys, fy sir i, nid yw’r rhai sy’n derbyn taliadau uniongyrchol yn cael unrhyw gymorth o gwbl; a dweud y gwir, nid yw eu gwariant wedi’i fonitro yn y tair blynedd diwethaf, a gallent ei wario ar unrhyw beth a ddymunant. Mae’r diffyg cymorth hwnnw’n cyfyngu ar allu rhai pobl i ymgeisio am y cynllun talu uniongyrchol gan fod prynu’ch gwasanaethau eich hun yn wahanol iawn i’w derbyn. Rhaid i bobl gael cymorth fel eu bod yn ddigon hyderus i ddilyn y llwybr gofal hwn.
Dai is right: there is still widespread concern throughout Wales about the ongoing relationship between the voluntary sector and local authorities. We must examine how carers’ organisations liaise with local authorities in developing carers’ strategies for their individual counties, and ensure that the voluntary sector voice is heard. Local authorities must realise that they are primarily service commissioners, and not necessarily service providers, as there are many organisations that can provide good, cost-effective services for carers.
Mae Dai yn iawn: mae pryder cyffredinol o hyd ledled Cymru ynghylch y berthynas gyfredol rhwng y sector gwirfoddol a’r awdurdodau lleol. Rhaid inni ystyried y modd y mae mudiadau gofalwyr yn cysylltu â’r awdurdodau lleol wrth ddatblygu strategaethau i ofalwyr ar gyfer eu siroedd unigol, a sicrhau gwrandawiad i lais y sector gwirfoddol. Rhaid i’r awdurdodau lleol sylweddoli mai comisiynwyr gwasanaethau ydynt yn bennaf, ac nid o reidrwydd yn ddarparwyr gwasanaethau, gan fod llawer o gyrff sy’n gallu darparu gwasanaethau da, cost-effeithiol i ofalwyr.
The crunch will come next year. This is the third year of our welcome, special grant, which is hypothecated so that local authorities cannot spend it on anything else. However, there is real fear in communities across Wales about what will happen next year if the money is not hypothecated, and becomes part of the revenue settlement grant. We have seen that learning disability services have melted away since the end of hypothecated funding, when the money for those services went into the revenue grant. We must bite the bullet and begin discussing what will happen to financial support for carers next year. The decision will be for another Assembly, but we must begin the discussion now.
Daw’r argyfwng y flwyddyn nesaf. Hon yw trydedd flwyddyn ein grant arbennig tra derbyniol, sydd wedi’i bridiannu fel na all yr awdurdodau lleol ei wario ar ddim arall. Fodd bynnag, mae ofn gwirioneddol mewn cymunedau ledled Cymru ynghylch yr hyn a fydd yn digwydd y flwyddyn nesaf os na chaiff yr arian ei bridiannu, ac yn dod yn rhan o’r grant setliad refeniw. Gwelsom fod y gwasanaethau anabledd dysgu wedi diflannu ers peidio â phridiannu’r cyllid, pan aeth yr arian ar gyfer y gwasanaethau hynny i’r grant refeniw. Rhaid inni dderbyn y caswir a dechrau trafod beth a fydd yn digwydd i’r cymorth ariannol i ofalwyr y flwyddyn nesaf. Mater i Gynulliad arall fydd y penderfyniad hwnnw, ond rhaid inni ddechrau’r drafodaeth yn awr.
This is a good opportunity to show our commitment to carers by providing long-term funding that will allow the voluntary organisations and local authorities to make secure plans for the future to support carers in their areas. That is the point of our amendment 1. By supporting it, the Minister and the Welsh Conservatives have demonstrated this Assembly’s commitment to continuing this strategy by ending the uncertainty of funding—
Dyma gyfle da i ddangos ein hymrwymiad i ofalwyr drwy ddarparu cyllid tymor hir a fydd yn caniatáu i’r cyrff gwirfoddol a’r awdurdodau lleol wneud cynlluniau sicr ar gyfer y dyfodol i gynorthwyo’r gofalwyr yn eu hardaloedd. Dyna bwynt gwelliant 1 o’n heiddo. Drwy ei gefnogi, mae’r Gweinidog a Cheidwadwyr Cymru wedi dangos ymrwymiad y Cynulliad hwn i barhau â’r strategaeth hon drwy roi terfyn ar yr ansicrwydd o ran ariannu—
Do you believe that supporting that amendment is good news for organisations such as Crossroads—Caring for Carers in my constituency, which does excellent work? However, it often finds that when its lottery grant expires after three years, it must find further funding to carry on. This long-term funding would be excellent news for such organisations.
A ydych yn credu bod y gefnogaeth i’r gwelliant yn newyddion da i fudiadau fel Croesffyrdd Cymru—Gofalu am Ofalwyr yn fy etholaeth i, sy’n gwneud gwaith rhagorol? Fodd bynnag, mae’n canfod yn aml, pan ddaw ei grant loteri i ben ar ôl tair blynedd, fod yn rhaid iddo ddod o hyd i gyllid pellach i barhau. Byddai’r cyllid tymor hir hwn yn newyddion rhagorol i fudiadau o’r fath.
It is excellent news, and we should all be aware of the huge savings that carers make to the public purse. The average carer is said to save us £10,000 a year. Within the UK, it is believed that that would total around £57 billion. In Wales, it adds up to £3.5 billion a year. That is more than our entire health budget at present.
Mae’n newyddion rhagorol, a dylem oll fod yn ymwybodol o’r arbedion aruthrol y mae gofalwyr yn eu sicrhau i’r coffrau cyhoeddus. Dywedir bod pob gofalwr yn arbed £10,000 y flwyddyn i ni ar gyfartaledd. Yn y DU, credir y byddai hynny’n dod i gyfanswm o tua £57 biliwn. Yng Nghymru, mae’n dod i £3.5 biliwn y flwyddyn. Mae hynny’n fwy na’n cyllideb iechyd gyfan ar hyn o bryd.
Three in every five people will become a carer in their lifetime—to a parent, a partner, a child or another family member. The number of carers is bound to increase significantly over the coming decades as the population ages, with more of us living longer and healthier lives. It will not be unusual for 70-year-olds to be caring for 90-year-old parents, and according to our older persons’ strategy, we want more older people to remain in their own homes for longer. There is bound to be an impact on their carers. Although people will be healthier and more independent, they will still need considerable support. It is vital that this strategy complements our strategy for older people.
Bydd tri ym mhob pump o bobl yn dod yn ofalwyr yn ystod eu hoes—i riant, i gymar, i blentyn neu aelod arall o’r teulu. Mae nifer y gofalwyr yn sicr o godi’n sylweddol dros y degawdau i ddod wrth i’r boblogaeth heneiddio, a mwy ohonom yn byw bywyd hwy ac iachach. Ni fydd yn anarferol i rai 70 mlwydd oed ofalu am rieni sy’n 90 mlwydd oed ac, yn unol â’n strategaeth i bobl hŷn, yr ydym am i ragor o bobl hŷn aros yn eu cartrefi eu hunain yn hwy. Mae’n sicr y bydd effaith ar eu gofalwyr. Er y bydd pobl yn iachach ac yn fwy annibynnol, bydd arnynt angen cymorth sylweddol o hyd. Mae’n hollbwysig bod y strategaeth hon yn ategu ein strategaeth i bobl hŷn.
As more people become carers in one capacity or another, we will need to find ways of ensuring that employers go some way to ensuring that work can be balanced with care responsibilities at home. Will the Minister tell us about what the Assembly as an employer is doing in that respect? What incentives are we putting in place for those working for us to care for someone? The vast majority of carers who have left work to care for someone and hope to return to work recognise that it is difficult or impossible to do so and are forced to accept that their responsibilities stand in the way. We need to develop incentives for employers to put carer friendly practices in place. Will the Minister outline how we can encourage local authorities, quangos and other bodies that we fund to facilitate that?
Wrth i fwy o bobl ddod yn ofalwyr rywfodd neu’i gilydd, bydd yn rhaid inni ganfod dulliau o sicrhau bod cyflogwyr yn cyfrannu i ryw raddau at sicrhau bod modd cydbwyso gwaith a chyfrifoldebau gofal gartref. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddweud wrthym beth y mae’r Cynulliad fel cyflogwr yn ei wneud yn hyn o beth? Pa gymhelliannau yr ydym yn eu rhoi ar waith i’r rhai sy’n gweithio i ni ofalu am rywun? Mae’r mwyafrif llethol o ofalwyr sydd wedi gadael gwaith i ofalu am rywun gan obeithio mynd yn ôl i weithio yn cydnabod ei bod yn anodd neu’n amhosibl gwneud hynny ac fe’u gorfodir i dderbyn bod eu cyfrifoldebau’n eu rhwystro. Rhaid inni ddatblygu cymhelliannau i gyflogwyr roi arferion sy’n ystyriol o ofalwyr ar waith. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddisgrifio sut y gallwn annog awdurdodau lleol, cwangos a chyrff eraill a ariannwn i hwyluso hynny?
I am pleased that this debate has been tabled today. The role of carers in our community has been undervalued and largely ignored until now. Acknowledging and supporting the role of carers is in all our interests and I look forward to the reviews of this strategy so that we can ensure that any current shortfalls are swiftly addressed.
Yr wyf yn falch bod y ddadl hon wedi’i chyflwyno heddiw. Mae rôl gofalwyr yn ein cymuned wedi’i thanbrisio a’i hanwybyddu i raddau helaeth hyd yn hyn. Mae cydnabod a chefnogi rôl gofalwyr o fudd i bawb ohonom ac edrychaf ymlaen at yr adolygiadau o’r strategaeth hon fel y gallwn sicrhau y rhoddir sylw buan i unrhyw ddiffygion a geir ar hyn o bryd.
This week is Volunteers Week. It is appropriate therefore that we acknowledge the enormous amount of work done by carers because they are also volunteers, often giving up their own lives to look after their loved ones. I particularly welcome the proposal to appoint a project officer to work with the black and ethnic minority communities. Will the Minister ensure that this officer, if appointed, identifies the black and ethnic minority communities across Wales? Some of these communities are often small, particularly in the rural areas. People can feel particularly isolated and unsure about where to get their support.
Wythnos y Gwirfoddolwyr yw’r wythnos hon. Mae’n briodol, felly, ein bod yn cydnabod y gwaith aruthrol a wneir gan ofalwyr gan eu bod hwythau’n wirfoddolwyr sy’n aml yn rhoi heibio eu bywyd eu hunain i ofalu am eu hanwyliaid. Croesawaf yn benodol y bwriad i benodi swyddog prosiect i weithio gyda’r cymunedau croenddu a lleiafrifol ethnig. A wnaiff y Gweinidog sicrhau bod y swyddog hwn, os caiff ei benodi, yn dynodi’r cymunedau croenddu a lleiafrifol ethnig ledled Cymru? Mae rhai o’r cymunedau hyn yn fach, yn enwedig yn yr ardaloedd gwledig. Gall pobl deimlo eu bod wedi’u hynysu a bod yn ansicr ynghylch lle y cânt gymorth.
I will highlight another group of people who have particular needs. Will the Minister ensure that the lesbian, gay and bisexual communities are not forgotten in this strategy? People of differing sexual orientation must often cope with ignorance and discrimination in their communities and older same sex couples in particular tend to keep themselves to themselves. I know of two same sex couples who have a horrible life in their local areas due to ignorance and discrimination. They often do not want to draw attention to themselves. However, they need to seek that support if they end up in a caring situation. They should be entitled to the same care packages as any other section in our community, even if they are perceived by some people as different.
Tynnaf sylw at grŵp arall o bobl sydd ag anghenion penodol. A wnaiff y Gweinidog sicrhau nad anghofir y cymunedau lesbiaidd, hoyw a deurywiol yn y strategaeth hon? Yn aml, rhaid i bobl â gwahanol dueddiad rhywiol ymdopi ag anwybodaeth a gwahaniaethu yn eu cymunedau ac mae parau hŷn o’r un rhyw yn arbennig o dueddol i gadw atynt eu hunain. Gwn am ddau bâr o’r un rhyw sy’n byw bywydau ofnadwy yn eu hardaloedd lleol oherwydd anwybodaeth a gwahaniaethu. Yn aml, nid ydynt am dynnu sylw atynt eu hunain. Fodd bynnag, bydd yn rhaid iddynt geisio’r cymorth hwnnw os byddant yn mynd i sefyllfa o ofalu. Dylai fod ganddynt hawl i dderbyn yr un pecynnau gofal ag unrhyw ran arall o’n cymuned, hyd yn oed os yw rhai pobl yn eu hystyried yn wahanol.
Helen Mary Jones siaradwyd yn Gymraeg ac yn Saesneg t. 40
Helen Mary Jones spoken in Welsh and English p. 40
Canolbwyntiaf ar anghenion gofalwyr ifanc. Gwyddom am y pwysau y gall gofalu ei roi ar bobl ifanc a’r effaith y gall hynny ei gael ar eu hiechyd, eu haddysg a’u datblygiad cymdeithasol. Fodd bynnag, mae’n bwysig cofio bod pobl ifanc yn aml yn dewis gofalu. Fel llawer o ofalwyr eraill, maent yn croesawu’r cyfle i ddangos eu cariad tuag at aelodau o’u teuluoedd sy’n dioddef neu’n wynebu problem drwy ofalu amdanynt. Yn aml, bydd y bobl ifanc hyn yn poeni am ofyn am help rhag ofn y bydd yr help honedig hwnnw’n troi’n ymyrraeth i fywyd y teulu na chroesewir gan y rhieni na’r plant.
in Welsh I will concentrate on the needs of young carers. We know of the pressure that caring can place on young people and the effect that it can have on their health, education and social development. However, we should bear in mind that young people often choose to care. Like many other carers, they welcome the opportunity to show their love for ailing family members by caring for them. These young people are often reluctant to ask for help in case that so-called help becomes intrusion into that family’s life that is not welcomed by the parents or the children.
Cyfeiria’r adroddiad hefyd at ymchwil a wnaed gan Brifysgol Cymru, Bangor a Phrifysgol Cymru, Abertawe sy’n dangos bod gan bobl ifanc sy’n gofalu ofynion eithaf syml. Maent am gael cefnogaeth addas iddynt hwy a’u teuluoedd, am dderbyn gwybodaeth gan ddarparwyr gwasanaethau a chynnal deialog â hwy. Yn rhy aml, pan fydd gweithwyr cymdeithasol neu ofalwyr iechyd yn ymweld â’r cartref, byddant yn siarad â’r oedolion yn unig ac yn anghofio rôl y plant a’r bobl ifanc.
in Welsh The report also refers to research by the University of Wales, Bangor and the University of Wales, Swansea, which shows that young people who care have relatively basic needs. They want appropriate support for themselves and their families, information from service providers and an ongoing dialogue with them. Too often, when social workers or health carers visit the home, they only speak to the adults and forget the role of the children and young people.
Bydd pobl ifanc hefyd yn gofyn am raglen i godi ymwybyddiaeth ymhlith pobl broffesiynol o’u cyfraniadau hwy fel gofalwyr ifanc. Gofynnant yn bennaf, fel pob gofalwr, am becynnau gofal hyblyg sy’n diwallu anghenion gwahanol ar adegau gwahanol. Os yw person ifanc, er enghraifft, yn gofalu am fam sy’n sâl, bydd arnynt angen mwy o help yn ystod cyfnod arholiadau nag unrhyw adeg arall. Gall fod yn anodd derbyn cefnogaeth hyblyg o’r math hwnnw ar yr adegau priodol.
in Welsh Young people also request a programme to raise awareness among professionals of their contribution as young carers. They ask specifically, as do all carers, for flexible care packages, which meet different needs at different times. For example, a young carer caring for his or her sick mother will need more assistance during examinations than at any other time. Flexible support of this kind at the appropriate times is not always available.
Y mae’r gofynion hyn yn eithaf syml a chlir. Mae angen buddsoddiad enfawr i sicrhau y cânt eu cyflawni dros Gymru gyfan. Mae’r adroddiad yn cyfeirio at y camau a wnaed yn barod ac mae rhai ohonynt, fel y dywedodd Aelodau eraill, yn bositif. Canmolaf y gwaith ardderchog a wna ambell brosiect sy’n gweithio gyda phobl ifanc sy’n gofalu dros gymunedau amrwyiol ar draws y wlad. Maent yn darparu cefnogaeth ymarferol ac emosiynol a gallant ddarparu gwasanaeth eirioli hefyd i helpu pobl ifanc i gyfathrebu â’r system swyddogol.
in Welsh The demands are quite straightforward and clear. A massive investment is needed to ensure that they are met throughout Wales. The report refers to the steps already taken and some, as many other Members have mentioned, are positive. I praise the excellent work of some projects that work with young people who care across various communities throughout the country. They provide practical and emotional support and can also provide an advocacy service to help young people to communicate with officialdom.
Mae’r adroddiad hefyd yn amlinellu’r camau nesaf i’w cymryd a chroesawaf y rheini, sef fforwm cenedlaethol i bobl ifanc sy’n gofalu a diffiniad eglurach o beth yn union yw person ifanc sy’n gofalu.
in Welsh The report also outlines the next steps to be taken, which are welcome, namely a national forum for young carers and a clearer definition of what exactly a young carer is.
However, the report also refers to many Assembly Government initiatives relating to children and young people without clarifying precisely how these initiatives will proactively involve young carers and address their needs. Much of what is being done and the proposed next steps are welcome. However, the references to these initiatives in the form in which they appear look suspiciously like padding. Will the Minister rectify that by explaining how ‘Extending Entitlement’ and ‘Children and Young People: A Framework for Partnership’ will address the needs of children and young people who are carers? Will she give us some specific information about the purpose of those initiatives?
yn Saesneg Fodd bynnag, mae’r adroddiad yn cyfeirio hefyd at lawer o fentrau Llywodraeth y Cynulliad sy’n ymwneud â phlant a phobl ifanc heb egluro’n union sut y bydd y mentrau hyn yn mynd ati i gynnwys gofalwyr ifanc ac ymdrin â’u hanghenion. Mae llawer o’r hyn a wneir a’r camau arfaethedig nesaf i’w croesawu. Fodd bynnag, mae’r cyfeiriadau at y mentrau hyn fel y maent yn ymddangos yn amheus o debyg i badio. A wnaiff y Gweinidog iawn am hynny drwy egluro sut y bydd ‘Ymestyn Hawliau’ a ‘Plant a Phobl Ifanc: Fframwaith ar gyfer Partneriaeth’ yn ymdrin ag anghenion plant a phobl ifanc sy’n ofalwyr? A wnaiff roi rhywfaint o wybodaeth benodol i ni am bwrpas y mentrau hynny?
What does the Minister propose to do to ensure that young carers can access services in whichever language they choose to use? This is a particularly important issue for children and young people in some of our rural communities where getting access to a social worker who speaks Welsh, for example, or an ethnic minority language in other communities, can be difficult.
yn Saesneg Beth y mae’r Gweinidog yn bwriadu’i wneud i sicrhau bod gofalwyr ifanc yn gallu cael gwasanaethau ym mha bynnag iaith y dewisant ei defnyddio? Mae hyn yn fater arbennig o bwysig i blant a phobl ifanc mewn rhai o’n cymunedau gwledig lle y gall fod yn anodd cael gweithiwr cymdeithasol sy’n siarad y Gymraeg, er enghraifft, neu iaith leiafrifol ethnig mewn cymunedau eraill.
Will the Minister also explain why the special educational needs code of practice appears in this section of the report? It is difficult to see how it is relevant. Young carers have special educational needs, but they are not the kind that need statementing. They need an imaginative, clever and well-thought-through response from schools. The issue is not about special educational needs tribunals. Will the Minister explain why the code appears in the report?
yn Saesneg A wnaiff y Gweinidog egluro hefyd pam y mae’r cod ymarfer anghenion addysgol arbennig yn ymddangos yn yr adran hon o’r adroddiad? Anodd gweld sut y mae’n berthnasol. Mae gan ofalwyr ifanc anghenion addysgol arbennig, ond nid ydynt o’r math y mae angen datganiad ar eu cyfer. Mae arnynt angen ymateb dyfeisgar, ystyriol a llawn dychymyg gan ysgolion. Nid yw’r mater hwn yn ymwneud â thribiwnlysoedd anghenion addysgol arbennig. A wnaiff y Gweinidog egluro pam y mae’r cod yn yr adroddiad?
We have all welcomed the strategy. The regular reports that we are receiving are immensely helpful. There is good work taking place and great progress is being made. It is important, however, that the Minister recognises—Kirsty Williams, Dai Lloyd and Jocelyn Davies have already referred to this—the deep fear that exists in this community that all this work would fall apart if the special central support runs out at the end of this year. People do not want this work to follow the route that the mental handicap strategy sadly followed. I would like the Minister to ensure us today that that will not happen and that she would be prepared to take action against local authorities that do not meet their responsibilities to carers in the short and long term.
yn Saesneg Yr ydym oll wedi croesawu’r strategaeth. Mae’r adroddiadau rheolaidd a gawn yn ddefnyddiol dros ben. Mae gwaith da’n digwydd a gwneir cynnydd mawr. Fodd bynnag, mae’n bwysig bod y Gweinidog yn cydnabod—mae Kirsty Williams, Dai Lloyd a Jocelyn Davies wedi cyfeirio at hyn eisoes—yr ofn mawr sy’n bodoli yn y gymuned hon y byddai’r holl waith hwn yn ymddatod os deuai’r cymorth canolog arbennig i ben ar ddiwedd y flwyddyn hon. Nid yw pobl am weld y gwaith hwn yn mynd yr un ffordd ag a wnaeth y strategaeth anfantais meddwl, gwaetha’r modd. Byddwn yn falch pe byddai’r Gweinidog yn ein sicrhau heddiw na fydd hynny’n digwydd ac y byddai’n barod i gymryd camau yn erbyn awdurdodau lleol nad ydynt yn cyflawni eu cyfrifoldebau at ofalwyr yn y tymor byr a hir.
We cannot afford to let carers down. As others have said, carers contribute enormously to our nation. We must ensure that their needs are met.
yn Saesneg Ni allwn fforddio siomi gofalwyr. Fel y dywedodd eraill, mae gofalwyr yn cyfrannu’n helaeth i’n cenedl. Rhaid inni sicrhau y caiff eu hanghenion eu diwallu.
Jane Hutt The Minister for Health and Social Services spoken in English p. 42
Jane Hutt Y Gweinidog dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 42
I am glad that there has been so much cross-party support and consensus. Everyone wants to pay tribute to carers and the organisations that represent them. Supporting carers is vital and the voice and strength of the carers’ movement in Wales means that we can look forwards and not backwards in terms of their future treatment. We look forward to their strong role and for them to receive recognition. That means that we need information about carers. David, Kirsty, Helen Mary and Dai mentioned carers assessment.
Yr wyf yn falch bod cymaint o gefnogaeth a chonsensws trawsbleidiol. Mae pawb yn dymuno talu teyrnged i ofalwyr a’r cyrff sy’n eu cynrychioli. Mae’n hollbwysig cefnogi gofalwyr ac mae llais a chryfder y mudiad gofalwyr yng Nghymru’n golygu y gallwn edrych ymlaen ac nid yn ôl o ran sut yr ydym yn ymwneud â hwy yn y dyfodol. Edrychwn ymlaen at eu rôl gadarn a’r gydnabyddiaeth a gânt. Mae hynny’n golygu bod arnom angen gwybodaeth am ofalwyr. Soniodd David, Kirsty, Helen Mary a Dai am asesu gofalwyr.
I want to pick up on an interesting point. As Lorraine Barratt said earlier, carers are often volunteers. There are many volunteer organisations throughout Wales. As it is Volunteers Week, I wish to name a few in my constituency: the Cancer Care line, Crossroads- Caring for Carers and, as it is Jubilee year, the Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations, which was established 75 years ago.
Dymunaf fynd ar drywydd un pwynt diddorol. Fel y dywedodd Lorraine Barratt yn gynharach, gwirfoddolwyr yw llawer o’r gofalwyr. Mae llawer o fudiadau gwirfoddolwyr ledled Cymru. Gan mai Wythnos y Gwirfoddolwyr yw hon, dymunaf enwi rhai yn fy etholaeth i: y Llinell Gymorth Canser, Croesffyrdd Cymru—Gofalu am Ofalwyr ac, ym mlwyddyn y Jiwbilî, Cymdeithas Cyrff Gwirfoddol Gwent, a sefydlwyd 75 mlynedd yn ôl.
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 43
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 43
Order. Will you please ask a question?
Trefn. A wnewch ofyn cwestiwn, os gwelwch yn dda?
Will you join me in congratulating and thanking these organisations for their services?
A wnewch ymuno â mi i longyfarch a diolch i’r mudiadau hyn am eu gwasanaethau?
I congratulate the volunteers. As you say, there is a close link between Volunteers Week and Carers Week. I also the congratulate GAVO’s work.
Llongyfarchaf y gwirfoddolwyr. Fel y dywedwch, mae cysylltiad agos rhwng Wythnos y Gwirfoddolwyr ac Wythnos y Gofalwyr. Yr wyf hefyd yn llongyfarch Cymdeithas Cyrff Gwirfoddol Gwent ar ei gwaith.
The carers assessment is important. It was introduced by legislation and has been available since July 2001. Widespread publicity for the carers assessment is essential. That has been achieved through the media and the Assembly, and carers’ groups have also provided information. It is not just a quick fix promotional campaign. As David said, 140,000 new carers come on board every year. We must recognise that publicity, promotion and services must be ongoing and that they should grow, not just be a one-off when legislation is introduced. Local authorities have been given extra money through the local government revenue settlement: £3.2 million in 2001-02, and an additional £2.6 million for next year, to help them implement the carers assessment. On Kirsty’s point about data and monitoring evaluation, the management information systems that the local authorities are now developing on social services will provide the data that we need.
Mae’r asesiad gofalwyr yn bwysig. Fe’i cyflwynwyd drwy ddeddfwriaeth a bu ar gael ers Gorffennaf 2001. Mae’n hollbwysig bod cyhoeddusrwydd eang i’r asesiad gofalwyr. Sicrhawyd hynny drwy’r cyfryngau a’r Cynulliad, ac mae’r grwpiau gofalwyr wedi darparu gwybodaeth hefyd. Nid ymgyrch hyrwyddo sy’n cynnig ateb sydyn ydyw. Fel y dywedodd David, mae 140,000 o ofalwyr newydd yn dechrau bob blwyddyn. Rhaid inni sylweddoli’r angen parhaus am gyhoeddusrwydd, hyrwyddo a gwasanaethau a’r angen iddynt dyfu, ac nid bod yn rhywbeth unwaith yn unig pan gyflwynir deddfwriaeth. Rhoddwyd arian ychwanegol i’r awdurdodau lleol drwy’r setliad refeniw llywodraeth leol: £3.2 miliwn yn 2001-02, a £2.6 miliwn ychwanegol ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf, i’w helpu i weithredu’r asesiad gofalwyr. Ynghylch pwynt Kirsty am werthuso data a monitro, bydd y systemau gwybodaeth reoli y mae’r awdurdodau lleol yn eu datblygu’n awr ar wasanaethau cymdeithasol yn darparu’r data y mae arnom eu hangen.
Protocols have been developed. We are also integrating carers not only in terms of their role on local health boards, which will be vital, but also in terms of developing policy. On Monday, I visited the Carers Forum in the Vale of Glamorgan. Members there said that they had exerted influence on their special grant from the Assembly this year. The carers’ groups in the Vale of Glamorgan came together and decided to recruit an advocacy worker. That has now been included in the council’s special grant for the forum. Therefore, carers are already beginning to influence joint planning, as that special grant demonstrates.
Fe ddatblygwyd protocolau. Yr ydym hefyd yn integreiddio gofalwyr nid yn unig yng nghyd-destun eu rôl ar fyrddau iechyd lleol, a fydd yn hollbwysig, ond hefyd yng nghyd-destun datblygu polisi. Ddydd Llun, ymwelais â’r Fforwm Gofalwyr ym Mro Morgannwg. Dywedodd yr aelodau yno eu bod wedi dylanwadu ar eu grant arbennig o’r Cynulliad eleni. Daeth y grwpiau gofalwyr ym Mro Morgannwg at ei gilydd a phenderfynu recriwtio gweithiwr eiriolaeth. Mae hynny wedi’i gynnwys bellach yng ngrant arbennig y cyngor i’r fforwm. Felly, mae gofalwyr eisoes yn dechrau dylanwadu ar gynllunio ar y cyd, fel y mae’r grant arbennig hwnnw yn ei ddangos.
David’s point on respite care is also important. Respite care not only involves care for the elderly, or care in a residential setting. We must be much more innovative and imaginative about respite options. There is a need for respite care during the day, especially on weekdays. Helen Mary raised a point about young carers. We must be flexible with young carers at different times of the year or week. We must build opportunities, which is where the voluntary sector will be innovative, as it already is. Having met young, disabled people who are dependent on their parents as carers, they do not want to be offered one option of respite care, they want many imaginative options.
Mae pwynt David am ofal seibiant yn bwysig hefyd. Mae gofal seibiant yn ymwneud â mwy na gofal am yr henoed, neu ofal mewn sefyllfa breswyl. Rhaid inni fod yn fwy arloesol a dyfeisgar ynghylch y dewisiadau ar gyfer seibiant. Mae angen gofal seibiant yn ystod y dydd, yn enwedig yn ystod yr wythnos. Cododd Helen Mary bwynt ynghylch gofalwyr ifanc. Rhaid inni fod yn hyblyg yn ein hymwneud â gofalwyr ifanc ar wahanol adegau o’r flwyddyn neu’r wythnos. Rhaid inni greu cyfleoedd, a bydd y sector gwirfoddol yn arloesol yn hynny o beth, fel y mae eisoes. Gan fy mod wedi cwrdd â phobl anabl ifanc sy’n dibynnu ar eu rhieni am ofal, gwn nad ydynt am gael cynnig un dewis o ofal seibiant, maent am gael llawer o ddewisiadau dyfeisgar.
On Kirsty’s point about the role of carer representatives on local health boards, that role will be a great and powerful one. I am delighted that Carers Wales will help us with the selection, and it will liaise with its local contacts. It will also help with the support. We are already talking to the voluntary sector about support for voluntary sector members on local health boards, as well as carer representatives. Our councils for voluntary action and service around Wales will play their role and are keen to do so.
Ynghylch pwynt Kirsty am rôl cynrychiolwyr y gofalwyr ar fyrddau iechyd lleol, bydd y rôl honno’n un fawr a phwerus. Yr wyf wrth fy modd y bydd Gofalwyr Cymru yn ein helpu wrth ddethol, a bydd yn gweithio â’i gysylltiadau lleol. Bydd hefyd yn helpu i roi cymorth. Yr ydym eisoes yn siarad â’r sector gwirfoddol ynghylch cymorth i aelodau’r sector gwirfoddol ar fyrddau iechyd lleol, yn ogystal â chynrychiolwyr y gofalwyr. Bydd ein cynghorau gweithredu a gwasanaethu gwirfoddol ledled Cymru’n chwarae rhan, ac maent yn awyddus i wneud hynny.
We must also ensure that carers are represented, and do not just have a token presence on the local health board but are part of a community of carers that they can relate to. On Jocelyn, Ieuan, Kirsty and Helen Mary’s concerns on long-term funding and how it will be addressed, clearly, the special grant and the strategy have had a huge impact on what we have done and we have all embraced that and taken it forward. The money has increased year on year. We will not turn the clock back; carers will not turn the clock back. The Assembly and local government will be scrutinised, to ensure that the clock is never turned back to the pre-carers strategy time when we had no plan, no commitment, and carers’ voices were not heard. Lorraine made important points for the needs of black and ethnic minority communities to be reflected throughout Wales. That is why we stipulated in the special grant that everybody must consider these needs and cultural differences. That is our commitment to equality of opportunity that also embraces issues of barriers to gay and lesbian people and same sex couples. We must take that on board and do so in terms of the wide diversity in our community.
Rhaid inni sicrhau hefyd y caiff gofalwyr gynrychiolaeth, ac nad yw eu presenoldeb ar fyrddau iechyd lleol yn symbolaidd yn unig ond yn hytrach yn rhan o gymuned o ofalwyr y gallant uniaethu â hi. Ynghylch pryderon Jocelyn, Ieuan, Kirsty a Helen Mary am ariannu tymor hir a sut yr ymdrinnir â hynny, mae’n amlwg bod y grant arbennig a’r strategaeth wedi cael effaith fawr iawn ar yr hyn a wnaethom ac yr ydym oll wedi croesawu hynny a’i hyrwyddo. Mae’r arian wedi cynyddu o flwyddyn i flwyddyn. Ni fyddwn yn troi’r cloc yn ôl; ni fydd gofalwyr yn troi’r cloc yn ôl. Archwilir y Cynulliad a llywodraeth leol, i sicrhau na chaiff y cloc byth ei droi’n ôl at y dyddiau cyn y strategaeth i ofalwyr pan nad oedd gennym na chynllun nac ymrwymiad a phan na chlywid lleisiau gofalwyr. Gwnaeth Lorraine bwyntiau pwysig am yr angen i adlewyrchu anghenion cymunedau croenddu a lleiafrifoedd ethnig ledled Cymru. Dyna pam y’i gwnaethom yn amod yn y grant arbennig y dylai pawb ystyried yr anghenion a’r gwahaniaethau diwylliannol hyn. Dyna ein hymrwymiad i gyfle cyfartal ac mae hefyd yn cwmpasu’r materion sy’n codi ynghylch y rhwystrau i bobl hoyw a lesbiaidd a pharau o’r un rhyw. Rhaid inni ddal hynny mewn cof gan ei ystyried yng nghyd-destun yr amrywiaeth eang yn ein cymuned.
Finally, on Helen Mary’s point, we must ensure that our children and young people’s framework is more strategic to reflect inclusively all of our concerns at a national and local level. We must therefore ensure that young carers’ voices are heard in the youth forums developing in all parts of Wales and that they are represented on the schools councils—
Yn olaf, ar bwynt Helen Mary, rhaid inni sicrhau bod ein fframwaith i blant a phobl ifanc yn fwy strategol er mwyn adlewyrchu ein holl bryderon yn gynhwysol ar lefel genedlaethol a lleol. Felly rhaid inni sicrhau y caiff lleisiau gofalwyr ifanc eu clywed yn y fforymau ieuenctid sy’n datblygu ym mhob rhan o Gymru ac y cânt eu cynrychioli ar y cynghorau ysgolion—
I am grateful to you for making that point on the record. However, if you look at the report, there are references to the young persons initiative and, by implication, that means that the Government will do something about including young carers; however, that is unclear. Will you answer my question about the SEN code; perhaps you will write to me? It seems inappropriate to include it in the report and could feed the concerns of some young carers that they are being treated as odd.
Yr wyf yn ddiolchgar ichi am wneud y pwynt hwnnw ar goedd. Fodd bynnag, os edrychwch ar yr adroddiad, mae cyfeiriadau at y fenter pobl ifanc a, drwy oblygiad, mae hynny’n golygu y bydd y Llywodraeth yn gwneud rhywbeth ynghylch cynnwys gofalwyr ifanc; fodd bynnag, nid yw hynny’n eglur. A wnewch chi ateb fy nghwestiwn am god anghenion addysgol arbennig; efallai y gwnewch ysgrifennu ataf? Mae’n ymddangos yn amhriodol ei gynnwys yn yr adroddiad a gallai borthi’r pryder sydd gan rai gofalwyr ifanc eu bod yn cael eu trin fel pe baent yn rhyfedd.
I will respond following consultation with my colleague, Jane Davidson. We were highlighting all the issues and policies of interest to young carers, but we must ensure that their needs are reflected in the core planning and commissioning of services. That includes education as well as health and social care. Our research with young carers has shown us how to take this forward. We also know that, as a result of our special grant, young carers groups are now meeting and working throughout Wales and making a real difference to young people’s lives. I am hosting a reception at NCM, which is next door to the Assembly, after this Plenary session to celebrate the work of carers and to champion the carers strategy through our communities. I hope that people will join us for that. It is a celebration, but it is also a campaign. We must never forget that the Assembly is campaigning for carers in partnership.
Ymatebaf ar ôl ymgynghori â’m cyd-Weinidog, Jane Davidson. Yr oeddem yn tynnu sylw at yr holl faterion a pholisïau o ddiddordeb i ofalwyr ifanc, ond rhaid inni sicrhau y caiff eu hanghenion eu hadlewyrchu yn y cynllunio craidd a’r broses o gomisiynu gwasanaethau. Mae hynny’n cynnwys addysg yn ogystal ag iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol. Mae ein hymchwil ymhlith gofalwyr ifanc wedi dangos inni sut i fwrw ymlaen â hynny. Gwyddom hefyd, o ganlyniad i’n grant arbennig, fod grwpiau gofalwyr ifanc bellach yn cyfarfod ac yn gweithio ledled Cymru ac yn gwneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol i fywydau pobl ifanc. Byddaf yn llywyddu derbyniad yn adeilad NCM, sydd y drws nesaf i’r Cynulliad, yn dilyn y Cyfarfod Llawn, i ddathlu gwaith gofalwyr ac i hyrwyddo’r strategaeth i ofalwyr yn ein holl cymunedau. Gobeithiaf y bydd rhai’n ymuno â ni ar gyfer hynny. Dathliad ydyw, ond mae hefyd yn ymgyrch. Rhaid inni beidio byth ag anghofio bod y Cynulliad yn ymgyrchu dros ofalwyr mewn partneriaeth.
Gwelliant 1 David Lloyd t. 46
Amendment 1 David Lloyd p. 46
DerbyniwydAdopted O blaidFor 35 YmatalAbstain 0 Yn erbynAgainst 0
Derbyniwyd y gwelliant.
Amendment carried.
Sut y pleidleisiodd yr AelodauHow Members voted
O blaidFor (35)
- Lorraine Barrett
- Mick Bates
- Peter Black
- Nick Bourne
- Eleanor Burnham
- Christine Chapman
- Jane Davidson
- Janet Davies
- Jocelyn Davies
- Ron Davies
- Delyth Evans
- Brian Gibbons
- Janice Gregory
- Alison Halford
- Brian Hancock
- Edwina Hart
- Jane Hutt
- Carwyn Jones
- Gareth Jones
- Helen Mary Jones
- Ieuan Wyn Jones
- Peter Law
- Huw Lewis
- David Lloyd
- Val Lloyd
- David Melding
- Tom Middlehurst
- Jonathan Morgan
- Rhodri Morgan
- Alun Pugh
- Peter Rogers
- Janet Ryder
- Gwenda Thomas
- Dafydd Wigley
- Kirsty Williams
Gwelliant 2 David Lloyd t. 47
Amendment 2 David Lloyd p. 47
DerbyniwydAdopted O blaidFor 35 YmatalAbstain 0 Yn erbynAgainst 0
Derbyniwyd y gwelliant.
Amendment carried.
Sut y pleidleisiodd yr AelodauHow Members voted
O blaidFor (35)
- Lorraine Barrett
- Mick Bates
- Peter Black
- Nick Bourne
- Eleanor Burnham
- Christine Chapman
- Jane Davidson
- Janet Davies
- Jocelyn Davies
- Ron Davies
- Delyth Evans
- Brian Gibbons
- Janice Gregory
- Alison Halford
- Brian Hancock
- Edwina Hart
- Jane Hutt
- Carwyn Jones
- Gareth Jones
- Helen Mary Jones
- Ieuan Wyn Jones
- Peter Law
- Huw Lewis
- David Lloyd
- Val Lloyd
- David Melding
- Tom Middlehurst
- Jonathan Morgan
- Rhodri Morgan
- Alun Pugh
- Peter Rogers
- Janet Ryder
- Gwenda Thomas
- Dafydd Wigley
- Kirsty Williams
Gwelliant 3 David Melding t. 48
Amendment 3 David Melding p. 48
DerbyniwydAdopted O blaidFor 35 YmatalAbstain 0 Yn erbynAgainst 0
Derbyniwyd y gwelliant.
Amendment carried.
Sut y pleidleisiodd yr AelodauHow Members voted
O blaidFor (35)
- Lorraine Barrett
- Mick Bates
- Peter Black
- Nick Bourne
- Eleanor Burnham
- Christine Chapman
- Jane Davidson
- Janet Davies
- Jocelyn Davies
- Ron Davies
- Delyth Evans
- Brian Gibbons
- Janice Gregory
- Alison Halford
- Brian Hancock
- Edwina Hart
- Jane Hutt
- Carwyn Jones
- Gareth Jones
- Helen Mary Jones
- Ieuan Wyn Jones
- Peter Law
- Huw Lewis
- David Lloyd
- Val Lloyd
- David Melding
- Tom Middlehurst
- Jonathan Morgan
- Rhodri Morgan
- Alun Pugh
- Peter Rogers
- Janet Ryder
- Gwenda Thomas
- Dafydd Wigley
- Kirsty Williams
Cynnig wedi’i ddiwygio Jane Hutt t. 49
Amended motion Jane Hutt p. 49
DerbyniwydAdopted O blaidFor 35 YmatalAbstain 0 Yn erbynAgainst 0
Derbyniwyd y cynnig wedi’i ddiwygio.
Amended motion carried.
Sut y pleidleisiodd yr AelodauHow Members voted
O blaidFor (35)
- Lorraine Barrett
- Mick Bates
- Peter Black
- Nick Bourne
- Eleanor Burnham
- Christine Chapman
- Jane Davidson
- Janet Davies
- Jocelyn Davies
- Ron Davies
- Delyth Evans
- Brian Gibbons
- Janice Gregory
- Alison Halford
- Brian Hancock
- Edwina Hart
- Jane Hutt
- Carwyn Jones
- Gareth Jones
- Helen Mary Jones
- Ieuan Wyn Jones
- Peter Law
- Huw Lewis
- David Lloyd
- Val Lloyd
- David Melding
- Tom Middlehurst
- Jonathan Morgan
- Rhodri Morgan
- Alun Pugh
- Peter Rogers
- Janet Ryder
- Gwenda Thomas
- Dafydd Wigley
- Kirsty Williams
Dadl Fer
Short Debate
Ailagor y Rheilffordd o Riwabon i Abermo
Reopening the Ruabon to Barmouth Railway Line
I am delighted to have this opportunity to use the short debate as a basis for reconnecting Wales. I was brought up on a farm in Cynwyd in the beautiful Dee valley looking down on the Ruabon to Barmouth railway line. The whistle of the train was greatly welcomed in a rural community that was not yet clogged up with cars. The train provided links that enabled tourists to travel calmly through one of the most beautiful valleys in the world. It also brought mail and goods directly and swiftly to local people. It was an age of immaculately manned stations. I recently looked at an early photograph of Ruabon station staff in 1902, which showed a smart team that was proud to be of service to its local community at a busy junction. It is now, unfortunately, a shabby shadow of its former self. Since Beeching, we have a decimated, skeleton rail service, unmanned stations, inadequate lighting, hostile environments and often disgusting facilities for local people and tourists. I am not looking back through rose-tinted spectacles but looking forward to a vision of expanding an integrated transport system for people and freight—contrary to a recently published ‘Beeching Mark 2’ report by the Institute of Directors.
Yr wyf yn falch o gael y cyfle hwn i ddefnyddio’r ddadl fer yn fan cychwyn i ailgysylltu Cymru. Fe’m magwyd ar fferm yng Nghynwyd yn harddwch dyffryn Dyfrdwy, a oedd yn edrych i lawr ar y rheilffordd o Riwabon i Abermo. Yr oedd croeso mawr i chwibaniad y trên mewn cymuned wledig nad oedd eto wedi’i thagu gan geir. Yr oedd y trên yn darparu cysylltiadau a alluogai dwristiaid i deithio’n dawel drwy un o’r dyffrynnoedd harddaf yn y byd. Yr oedd hefyd yn dod â phost a nwyddau’n uniongyrchol ac yn gyflym i’r bobl leol. Yr oedd yn oes pan oedd staff trwsiadus yn y gorsafoedd. Edrychais yn ddiweddar ar lun cynnar o staff gorsaf Rhiwabon yn 1902, a ddangosai dîm trwsiadus a oedd yn falch o wasanaethu ei gymuned leol ar gyffordd brysur. Gwaetha’r modd, nid yw bellach ond yn gysgod gwael o’r hyn oedd. Ers Beeching, mae gennym wasanaeth rheilffyrdd annigonol, anrheithiedig, gorsafoedd heb staff, goleuo anaddas, amgylcheddau anghyfeillgar a chyfleusterau sy’n aml yn warthus ar gyfer pobl leol a thwristiaid. Nid gweld popeth yn y gorffennol yn hyfryd yr wyf, ond edrych ymlaen at weledigaeth o ehangu system drafnidiaeth integredig i bobl a nwyddau—yn groes i’r adroddiad ‘Beeching Mark 2’ a gyhoeddwyd yn ddiweddar gan Sefydliad y Cyfarwyddwyr.
Many of us use railways abroad where governments and regions invest heavily in integrated transport systems as part of the social fabric and for commercial activity. At the recent Welsh Liberal Democrat conference, we debated reconnecting Wales in a fully integrated transport system. The 1999 Babtie report looked at connecting Wales in all directions. Devolution gives us the perfect chance to invest in our disadvantaged and hinterland regions to stimulate tourism and recharge faltering local economies, particularly after foot and mouth disease.
Mae llawer ohonom yn defnyddio rheilffyrdd dramor lle y mae llywodraethau a rhanbarthau’n buddsoddi’n helaeth mewn systemau trafnidiaeth integredig fel rhan o wead cymdeithas ac ar gyfer gweithgarwch masnachol. Yng nghynhadledd ddiweddar Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru, cawsom ddadl ar ailgysylltu Cymru drwy system drafnidiaeth gwbl integredig. Yn adroddiad Babtie yn 1999 ystyriwyd ailgysylltu Cymru ym mhob cyfeiriad. Mae datganoli’n rhoi cyfle perffaith inni fuddsoddi yn ein rhanbarthau difreintiedig a chefnwlad i hybu twristiaeth ac adnewyddu economïau lleol sigledig, yn enwedig ar ôl clwy’r traed a’r genau.
This week, I spoke to Father Deiniol from Ffestiniog, who travelled on this line before it closed. There were 14 coaches and the train had to stop twice at most stations because of its length. From Bala junction westwards, there was standing room only. This line could not, therefore, have closed through lack of use. The year before closure, new track was laid at Llangollen. The rails on the line were high-quality steel, and the closure had an impact locally for at least 10 years. It has led to greater road congestion throughout those parts of Wales that the line crossed.
Yr wythnos hon, bûm yn siarad â’r Tad Deiniol o Ffestiniog, a deithiai ar y rheilffordd hon cyn ei chau. Yr oedd 14 o gerbydau ac yr oedd yn rhaid i’r trên stopio ddwywaith yn y rhan fwyaf o’r gorsafoedd oherwydd ei hyd. O gyffordd y Bala tua’r gorllewin, nid oedd ond lle i sefyll. Felly, ni allai’r rheilffordd hon fod wedi’i chau oherwydd diffyg defnydd. Y flwyddyn cyn ei chau, gosodwyd cledrau newydd yn Llangollen. Defnyddiwyd dur o ansawdd da i wneud y cledrau, ac effeithiodd y cau ar yr ardal am o leiaf 10 mlynedd. Mae wedi arwain at fwy o dagfeydd ar y ffyrdd drwy’r rhannau hynny o Gymru yr oedd y rheilffordd yn mynd drwyddynt.
The original Llangollen railway line, which ran from Ruabon to Barmouth, was closed to passenger trains in December 1964 and the track was lifted in 1968. In September 1975, Llangollen station was reopened with three miles of trackbed towards Corwen. In 1981, Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate passed the railway track as being fit for use by passenger trains. That was the first track to be reopened in the Dee valley for 16 years.
Caewyd rheilffordd wreiddiol Llangollen, a redai o Riwabon i Abermo, i drenau teithwyr yn Rhagfyr 1964 a chodwyd y cledrau yn 1968. Ym Medi 1975, ailagorwyd gorsaf Llangollen ynghyd â thair milltir o drac i gyfeiriad Corwen. Yn 1981, cymeradwyodd Arolygiaeth Rheilffyrdd Ei Mawrhydi y trac rheilffordd fel un a oedd yn addas i’w ddefnyddio gan drenau teithwyr. Hwnnw oedd y trac cyntaf i’w ailagor yn nyffryn Dyfrdwy am dros 16 mlynedd.
Throughout a 20-year period, the track was progressively laid by dedicated volunteers. Capital and associated infrastracture costs could have been prohibitive. Fortunately significant assistance was received from the public and private sectors in grant aid and donations. Llangollen railway is now the most popular tourist attraction in the area and makes a significant contribution to the local economy. It has been estimated that the railway generates an annual income of £1.5 million for the Dee valley. Passenger numbers average 80,000 per year and it employs around 12 full-time paid staff. It also provides facilities for three young apprentices who are being trained in traditional engineering skills.
Drwy gydol cyfnod o 20 mlynedd, gosodwyd y cledrau’n raddol gan wirfoddolwyr ymroddedig. Gallasai’r costau cyfalaf a seilwaith cysylltiedig fod yn afresymol. Yn ffodus, derbyniwyd cymorth sylweddol gan y sectorau cyhoeddus a phreifat ar ffurf cymorth grant a rhoddion. Rheilffordd Llangollen yw’r atyniad twristaidd mwyaf poblogaidd yn yr ardal bellach ac mae ei chyfraniad i’r economi leol yn sylweddol. Amcangyfrifwyd bod y rheilffordd yn cynhyrchu incwm blynyddol o £1.5 miliwn i ddyffryn Dyfrdwy. Caiff 80,000 o deithwyr y flwyddyn ar gyfartaledd ac mae’n cyflogi tua 12 o staff taledig llawn amser. Mae hefyd yn darparu cyfleusterau i dri phrentis ifanc a hyfforddir mewn sgiliau peirianneg traddodiadol.
It is estimated that around 250 volunteers are required to keep the railway operating. This year almost £1 million has been committed to three major projects, including around £400,000 from the heritage lottery fund. Two stations and a viaduct—a listed structure—were found to be in urgent need of repair at a cost of around £360,000. Contractors are completing the final phases of this work. It is the first work to be undertaken on the viaduct since 1936. It has proved impossible to obtain significant grant aid for this work and the railway has launched a public appeal. Therefore, please dig deep into your pockets.
Amcangyfrifir bod angen tua 250 o wirfoddolwyr i gadw’r rheilffordd ar waith. Eleni neilltuwyd ymron i £1 filiwn i dri phrosiect pwysig, gan gynnwys tua £400,000 o gronfa treftadaeth y loteri. Cafwyd bod taer angen atgyweirio dwy orsaf a thraphont—sy’n adeiladwaith rhestredig—ar gost o tua £360,000. Mae contractwyr yn cwblhau rhannau olaf y gwaith hwn. Dyma’r gwaith cyntaf ar y draphont ers 1936. Cafwyd ei bod yn amhosibl cael cymorth grant sylweddol ar gyfer y gwaith hwn ac mae’r rheilffordd wedi lansio apêl i’r cyhoedd. Felly, rhoddwch yn hael, os gwelwch yn dda.
The third project was the erection of a building to provide covered accommodation for rolling stock. Llangollen railway intends to operate trains to Corwen within the next four years. All parties consider that it is fundamental to the regeneration of Corwen.
Y trydydd prosiect oedd codi adeilad i ddarparu lle dan do i gadw’r cerbydau. Mae rheilffordd Llangollen yn bwriadu rhedeg trenau i Gorwen o fewn y pedair blynedd nesaf. Mae pawb sy’n gysylltiedig o’r farn bod hynny’n hollbwysig er mwyn adfywio Corwen.
Llangollen railway has long since outgrown the clichéd image of a bunch of enthusiasts ‘playing’ at trains, and is a fundamental component in the economic wellbeing of the local community. Its long-term ambition is to see the railway extended towards Ruabon and the main line connection in one direction, and possibly further towards Bala in the other. There may be major engineering obstacles to overcome, but it is considered to be feasible. Corwen and the Dee valley would then be accessible from the national rail network. Just think—a through ticket from Corwen to London once again.
Mae rheilffordd Llangollen wedi hen ymadael â’r darlun ystrydebol o griw o selogion yn ‘chwarae trên’, ac mae’n hanfodol i les economaidd y gymuned leol. Ei huchelgais yn y tymor hir yw gweld ymestyn y rheilffordd tua Rhiwabon a’r cysylltiad â’r brif linell i un cyfeiriad, ac ymhellach tua’r Bala, o bosibl, i’r cyfeiriad arall. Mae’n bosibl y bydd angen goresgyn rhwystrau peirianegol mawr, ond credir ei bod yn ymarferol. Wedyn gellid cyrraedd Corwen a dyffryn Dyfrdwy o’r rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd cenedlaethol. Meddyliwch amdani—tocyn a aiff â chi yn syth o Gorwen i Lundain unwaith eto.
Commuters could travel by train to their place of work and perhaps a park and ride scheme could alleviate problems in Llangollen. Assistance will continue to be required to fund major projects. However, if one accepts that Llangollen railway is an operator in the public transport sector, is that any different from the subsidies received by a train operating company?
Gallai cymudwyr deithio ar y trên i’w gwaith ac efallai y gallai cynllun parcio a theithio liniaru’r problemau yn Llangollen. Bydd angen cymorth o hyd i ariannu prosiectau mawr. Fodd bynnag, os yw rhywun yn derbyn bod rheilffordd Llangollen yn gweithredu yn y sector trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, a oes gwahaniaeth rhwng hynny a’r cymorthdaliadau a gaiff cwmni trenau?
The other railway line in question is the Bala railway line, which was opened in 1972 on part of the old Great Western Railway trackbed that stretched from Ruabon to Barmouth junction. The line was closed as part of the Beeching cuts and the land became the property of the council. George Barnes saw its potential and the land is now leased from Gwynedd Council. It is a narrow gauge railway and is different from that at Llangollen. The diesel locomotive and coaches were made especially for the railway. It has a 100-year-old ‘Holy War’ and a 92-year-old ‘Maid Marian’. However, acquiring funding for this narrow gauge railway is difficult.
Y llinell reilffordd arall dan sylw yw llinell reilffordd y Bala, a agorwyd yn 1972 ar ran o wely hen reilffordd y Great Western Railway a ymestynnai o Riwabon i gyffordd Abermo. Caewyd y llinell fel rhan o doriadau Beeching a daeth y tir yn eiddo i’r cyngor. Gwelodd George Barnes ei botensial ac mae’r tir wedi’i osod ar brydles yn awr gan Gyngor Gwynedd. Rheilffordd gul ydyw ac mae’n wahanol i’r un yn Llangollen. Gwnaed y locomotif diesel a’r cerbydau’n arbennig i’r rheilffordd. Mae ganddi ‘Holy War’ sy’n 100 mlwydd oed a ‘Maid Marian’ sy’n 92 mlwydd oed. Fodd bynnag, mae’n anodd sicrhau cyllid i’r rheilffordd gul hon.
The private limited company does not have and cannot get charitable status. It is not eligible for the hundreds of thousands of pounds that Llangollen railway has acquired. However, it is eligible for tourist board grants for suitable projects. In the last few years, it has received a grant to refit the shop, resurface the platform and purchase a diesel locomotive. Its share of such schemes has to be funded from its revenue and borrowing and, if the Easter to September period does not generate enough revenue, the company has a problem. The railway company has always wanted to extend the line into Bala town and run it around the end of the lake, but failed to obtain the backing of Snowdonia National Park and the council; the scheme is now on hold indefinitely.
Nid yw’r cwmni cyfyngedig preifat yn meddu ar statws elusen ac ni all ei gael. Nid yw’n gymwys i gael y cannoedd o filoedd o bunnoedd a roddwyd i reilffordd Llangollen. Er hynny, mae’n gymwys i dderbyn grantiau’r bwrdd croeso ar gyfer prosiectau addas. Yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf, derbyniodd grant i adnewyddu’r siop, i roi wyneb newydd ar y platfform ac i brynu locomotif diesel. Rhaid iddo ariannu ei gyfran ef o gynlluniau o’r fath o’i refeniw a’i fenthyciadau ac, os nad yw’r cyfnod o’r Pasg i fis Medi’n cynhyrchu digon o refeniw, bydd y cwmni mewn anhawster. Bu’n ddymuniad gan y cwmni rheilffordd erioed i ymestyn y llinell i dref y Bala a’i rhedeg o gwmpas pen y llyn, ond methodd â chael cefnogaeth Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri a’r cyngor; mae’r cynllun wedi’i atal am gyfnod amhenodol.
Investing in a long-term vision for an area requires lateral thinking and a debate on the reasons for evaluating line redevelopment. One must consider whether it is for the benefit of the rural economy or community improvement, to create a new or alternative route to provide hinterland access or whether it is to create a visitor experience or, possibly, a combination of these matters.
Mae buddsoddi mewn gweledigaeth hirdymor ar gyfer unrhyw ardal yn gofyn meddwl ochrol a dadl ar y rhesymau dros werthuso ailddatblygiad llinell. Rhaid i rywun ystyried ai budd yr economi wledig neu welliannau cymunedol yw’r cymhelliad, ynteu creu llwybr newydd neu amgen i gyrraedd y gefnwlad neu brofiad i ymwelwyr neu, o bosibl, cyfuniad o’r materion hyn yw’r bwriad.
Comparisons could be made with the Montgomery canal renovation project. I do not have time to go into the details of that project, but one example is the renovation of moorings and canal-side residential land. The unique selling point is that it is a holiday experience based around public transport and travelling on foot, without the use of cars. A car-free model has proven successful in many existing projects. In the context of developing tourism, the gain would be increased access via a sustainable transport route. At the moment, 90 per cent of visitors to Wales travel by car; that percentage should be reduced.
Gellid tynnu cymariaethau â phrosiect adnewyddu camlas Trefaldwyn. Nid oes gennyf amser i fynd i fanylion y prosiect hwnnw, ond un enghraifft yw’r adnewyddu ar yr angorfeydd a’r tir preswyl ar lan y gamlas. Yr atyniad arbennig yw ei fod yn brofiad gwyliau sy’n seiliedig ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus a theithio ar droed, heb ddefnyddio ceir. Mae model heb geir wedi profi’n llwyddiannus mewn llawer o’r prosiectau presennol. Yng nghyd-destun datblygu twristiaeth, y fantais fyddai mwy o fynediad drwy lwybr trafnidiaeth cynaliadwy. Ar hyn o bryd, mae 90 y cant o’r rhai sy’n ymweld â Chymru’n teithio mewn ceir; dylid lleihau’r ganran honno.
The Strategic Rail Authority is currently charged with setting up the Wales and Borders rail franchise and intends to let a 15-year enhanceable franchise with five-year review points. In a nutshell, it is a Treasury-driven lowest cost scenario, not an uplifting vision and economic investment to improve Wales’s deprived rural economy in areas such as the Dee valley on the Ruabon to Barmouth line. The Treasury holds the purse strings and, as we say in Welsh, ‘diwedd y gân yw’r geiniog’—at the end of the day, it is money that counts.
Ar hyn o bryd mae’r Awdurdod Rheilffyrdd Strategol yn gyfrifol am sefydlu masnachfraint reilffyrdd Cymru a’r Gororau ac mae’n bwriadu gosod masnachfraint 15 mlynedd y gellir ei chynyddu, gydag adolygiadau bob pum mlynedd. Yn gryno, mae hwn yn senario a yrrir gan y Trysorlys yn seiliedig ar y gost isaf, yn hytrach na gweledigaeth ddyrchafol a buddsoddiad economaidd i wella economi wledig ddifreintiedig Cymru mewn ardaloedd fel dyffryn Dyfrdwy rhwng Rhiwabon ac Abermo. Gan y Trysorlys y mae llinynnau’r pwrs ac, fel y dywedwn yn y Gymraeg, diwedd y gân yw’r geiniog.
It is vital to have a vision of investment in transport infrastructure to regenerate many of these unconnected rural beauty spots such as the Dee valley on the Ruabon to Barmouth line. Such areas could be revitalised and increase their gross domestic product this way, as well as being opened up to the rest of the UK, Europe and even the world. We can draw parallels with the north-south rail link because we do not have a realistic north-south connection other than through England. It is highly unusual for a country to lack ease of movement from one end to the other and to have such an incongruous link to its capital. Our geography and history has dictated this through our being tied to England and having most major routes run from east to west, as noted in the 1999 Babtie report.
Mae’n hollbwysig cael gweledigaeth o fuddsoddi yn y seilwaith trafnidiaeth i adfywio llawer o’r mannau hardd digyswllt yng nghefn gwlad fel dyffryn Dyfrdwy rhwng Rhiwabon ac Abermo. Gellid ailfywiogi ardaloedd o’r fath a chynyddu eu cynnyrch mewnwladol crynswth fel hyn, yn ogystal â’u hagor i weddill y DU, Ewrop a hyd yn oed y byd. Gallwn gymharu hyn â’r cyswllt rheilffordd o’r gogledd i’r de, gan nad oes gennym gyswllt ymarferol o’r gogledd i’r de heblaw am yr un drwy Loegr. Mae’n dra anarferol gweld gwlad nad oes ganddi gyswllt hwylus rhwng un pen a’r llall ac â chyswllt rhyfedd â’i phrifddinas. Mae ein daearyddiaeth a’n hanes wedi pennu hynny drwy ein clymu wrth Loegr a pheri bod y rhan fwyaf o’r prif lwybrau’n mynd o’r dwyrain i’r gorllewin, fel y nodwyd yn adroddiad Babtie yn 1999.
The Assembly needs to overcome these out-of-date legacies if it is to be an effective instrument of government, regeneration and renewal and to be pertinent and acceptable to north Wales. We could spend all day discussing other routes. For example, as was pointed out to me recently, the former links in the east from north to south, which could encompass the whole area from Newtown to Newport, and then, in the west, from Holyhead to Carmarthen. That could be started by simply linking the Conwy valley line Maentwrog Road station to Llandecwyn halt, creating a link between Holyhead and Aberystwyth, and then reopening the Aberystwyth and Carmarthen section. That would provide a possible four-hour Bangor to Cardiff journey on the west side.
Rhaid i’r Cynulliad oresgyn y rhwystrau hyn o’r gorffennol os ydyw i lywodraethu, adfywio ac adnewyddu’n effeithiol a bod yn berthnasol i’r Gogledd ac yn dderbyniol ganddo. Gallem drafod llwybrau eraill drwy’r dydd. Er enghraifft, tynnwyd fy sylw’n ddiweddar at y cysylltiadau blaenorol yn y dwyrain o’r gogledd i’r de, a allai gwmpasu’r ardal gyfan o’r Drenewydd i Gasnewydd, ac yna, yn y gorllewin, o Gaergybi i Gaerfyrddin. Gellid dechrau hynny drwy ddim ond cysylltu gorsaf Ffordd Maentwrog ar linell Dyffryn Conwy ag arhosfan Llandecwyn, gan greu cyswllt rhwng Caergybi ac Aberystwyth, ac wedyn ailagor y rheilffordd o Aberystwyth i Gaerfyrddin. Byddai hynny’n daith bedair awr o bosibl o Fangor i Gaerdydd ar yr ochr orllewinol.
A Carmarthen business recently reported that access to Devon was easy, but not to north Wales because of the lack of rail transport. Such a route would also connect the growing university towns of Bangor, Aberystwyth, Lampeter, Carmarthen and Cardiff, with easy links to Swansea and Pontypridd.
Nododd busnes o Gaerfyrddin yn ddiweddar ei bod yn hawdd cyrraedd Dyfnaint, ond nid gogledd Cymru oherwydd diffyg gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd. Byddai llwybr o’r fath hefyd yn cysylltu trefi prifysgol ffyniannus Bangor, Aberystwyth, Llanbedr Pont Steffan, Caerfyrddin a Chaerdydd, gyda chysylltiadau hwylus ag Abertawe a Phontypridd.
This vision for regeneration could contribute substantially to the regeneration of all economically underdeveloped areas of Wales. Much of the route runs through Objective 1 areas, which could be an important financial factor. For example, on the Conwy valley line, I believe that Alfred McAlpine Slate, which owns the quarry in Blaenau Ffestiniog, plans to remove the slate waste from the town by rail. It is believed that they are ready to invest in the Conwy valley line to upgrade it to the necessary standard. I believe that the University of Wales, Lampeter is interested and willing to support the proposal.
Gallai’r weledigaeth hon ar gyfer adfywio gyfrannu’n sylweddol at adfywio’r holl ardaloedd yng Nghymru sydd heb ddatblygu’n ddigonol yn economaidd. Mae rhan helaeth o’r llwybr yn rhedeg drwy ardaloedd Amcan 1, a allai fod yn ffactor ariannol pwysig. Er enghraifft, ar linell dyffryn Conwy, credaf fod Alfred McAlpine Slate, sy’n berchen ar y chwarel ym Mlaenau Ffestiniog, yn bwriadu symud y llechi gwastraff o’r dref ar y rheilffordd. Credir ei fod yn barod i fuddsoddi yn rheilffordd dyffryn Conwy i’w chodi i’r safon ofynnol. Credaf fod Prifysgol Cymru, Llanbedr Pont Steffan yn ymddiddori yn hyn a’i bod yn barod i gefnogi’r cynllun.
In conclusion, the title of my speech is ‘A Parallel for Wales’. To reconnect communities we need an adequately funded, integrated transport system. That would be a hugely beneficial investment to regenerate dying communities as opposed to penny-pinching. It would run in parallel with the inevitable developments of environmentally friendly lorries and cars. This is my vision to meaningfully reconnect Wales. Without vision, goals and actions, nothing will ever improve. The Assembly has a great opportunity to reconnect the people of Wales and their communities.
I derfynu, teitl fy araith yw ‘Paralel i Gymru’. Er mwyn ailgysylltu cymunedau mae arnom angen system drafnidiaeth integredig a ariannwyd yn ddigonol. Dylem wneud y fuddsoddiad gwerthfawr hwn er mwyn adfywio cymunedau sy’n nychu, yn hytrach na bod yn gybyddlyd. Rhedai’n gyfochrog â’r datblygu anorfod o lorïau a cheir sy’n garedig i’r amgylchedd. Dyma yw fy ngweledigaeth i ailgysylltu Cymru’n ystyrlon. Heb weledigaeth, nodau a gweithredoedd, ni fydd dim yn gwella byth. Mae gan y Cynulliad gyfle gwych i ailgysylltu pobl Cymru a’u cymunedau.
As I was a volunteer for Voluntary Week, as most of us probably were, I take this opportunity to pay tribute to all railway volunteers who work so hard to generate such a huge amount of income.
Gan fy mod yn wirfoddolwr yn Wythnos y Gwirfoddolwyr, fel yr oedd y rhan fwyaf ohonom yn ôl pob tebyg, manteisiaf ar y cyfle hwn i dalu teyrnged i’r holl wirfoddolwyr sy’n gweithio mor galed ar y rheilffyrdd i greu incwm mor fawr.
I note with great interest that Her Majesty, the Queen, who will address us this afternoon, visited Dolau on the beautiful Heart of Wales line for her picnic in mid Wales. That line is also starved of infrastructure investment. The first time that I travelled on that line I thought that there was a huge problem because the train travelled at about 5 miles per hour. However, the guard told me that they could not go any faster due to the infrastructure. The royal train has been pulled by the beautifully preserved steam locomotive, ‘Duchess of Sutherland’. I hope that that bodes well for our future rail system.
Sylwaf gyda diddordeb fod Ei Mawrhydi, y Frenhines, a fydd yn ein hannerch y prynhawn hwn, wedi ymweld â Dolau ar linell hyfryd Calon Cymru ar gyfer ei phicnic yn y Canolbarth. Mae’r rheilffordd honno wedi’i hamddifadu o fuddsoddiad yn ei seilwaith hefyd. Y tro cyntaf imi deithio ar y llinell honno, credais fod rhywbeth mawr yn bod am fod y trên yn teithio tua 5 milltir yr awr. Fodd bynnag, dywedodd y gard wrthyf na allent fynd yn gyflymach oherwydd y seilwaith. Tynnwyd y trên brenhinol gan y locomotif ager ‘Duchess of Sutherland’ sydd wedi’i gadw mewn cyflwr ardderchog. Gobeithiaf fod hynny’n argoeli’n dda ar gyfer ein system reilffyrdd yn y dyfodol.
I call on the Minister for Environment, Sue Essex, to commit funds to cover an adequate study of this vision, which is supported by many key players, including local government, the tourism industry—whose representatives I have already spoken to—and, humbly, myself. I will allow time for Peter Rogers to speak.
Galwaf ar y Gweinidog dros yr Amgylchedd, Sue Essex, i neilltuo arian i dalu am astudiaeth ddigonol o’r weledigaeth hon, a gefnogir gan lawer o’r cyfranwyr allweddol, gan gynnwys llywodraeth leol, y diwydiant twristiaeth—yr wyf wedi siarad â’i gynrychiolwyr eisoes—ac, yn ostyngedig, myfi. Gadawaf amser i Peter Rogers gael siarad.
I welcome any opportunity to speak on an alternative form of transport. The recently introduced free bus passes for senior citizens has been a great success and has provided an opportunity to improve bus routes and services throughout the country. Eleanor’s proposal can only help another alternative form of transport, namely the railways. To join Wales together we must have a greater emphasis and understanding of what railways can do. Even in terms of the route that she advocates, it is an important start for people to understand the importance of what it can do for Wales. We must get young people to think of modes of transport other than cars and I cannot think of a better way than for parents to take their children on such routes. That would take this issue forward and highlight the important service that a good railway system throughout Wales could provide.
Yr wyf yn croesawu unrhyw gyfle i siarad am drafnidiaeth amgen. Bu’r tocynnau bysiau am ddim i bensiynwyr a gyflwynwyd yn ddiweddar yn llwyddiant mawr ac maent wedi cynnig cyfle i wella’r llwybrau a’r gwasanaethau bysiau ledled y wlad. Mae cynllun Eleanor yn sicr o fod o gymorth i ddull arall o deithio, sef y rheilffyrdd. Er mwyn uno Cymru rhaid inni ddeall yn well a phwysleisio’r hyn y gall y rheilffyrdd ei wneud. Hyd yn oed o ran y llwybr y mae hi’n dadlau drosto, mae’n fan cychwyn pwysig i bobl ddeall pwysigrwydd yr hyn y gall ei wneud dros Gymru. Rhaid inni beri i bobl ifanc feddwl am drafnidiaeth heblaw ceir, ac ni allaf feddwl am well ffordd nag i rieni fynd â’u plant i ddilyn llwybrau o’r fath. Byddai hynny’n hyrwyddo’r mater hwn ac yn tynnu sylw at y gwasanaeth da y gallai system reilffyrdd dda ledled Cymru ei ddarparu.
Delyth Evans Y Dirprwy Weinidog dros Faterion Gwledig, Diwylliant a’r Amgylchedd siaradwyd yn Gymraeg t. 57
Delyth Evans The Deputy Minister for Rural Affairs, Culture and Environment spoken in Welsh p. 57
Nid yw’r Gweinidog, Sue Essex, yn gallu bod yn bresennol heddiw. Mae’n ymddiheuro am ei habsenoldeb ac mae wedi gofyn imi ateb ar ei rhan.
The Minister, Sue Essex, cannot be present today. She apologises for her absence and has asked me to speak on her behalf.
Mae Llywodraeth y Cynulliad yn rhannu eich dyhead am well cysylltiadau rheilffyrdd. Un o brif amcanion Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru yn ‘Cynllun i Gymru 2001’ a’i fframwaith trafnidiaeth yw datblygu a chynnal rhwydweithiau trafnidiaeth i ehangu dewis a chyfleoedd trafnidiaeth cyfleus a fforddiadwy i unigolion, busnesau a chymunedau.
The Assembly Government shares your aspiration for better rail connections. One of the Welsh Assembly Government’s key aims in ‘A Plan for Wales 2001’ and its transport framework is to develop and support a transport infrastructure to extend choice and opportunity for convenient and affordable transport to individuals, businesses and communities.
Mae carfan gref o bobl sy’n frwdfrydig o blaid y rheilffyrdd—yr ydych wedi cwrdd â hwy, Eleanor, fel yr ydym oll, yr wyf yn siŵr—sydd wedi ymgyrchu dros y blynyddoedd o blaid ailagor rheilffyrdd mewn llawer rhan o Gymru am amryw o resymau. Mae’r rhain yn cynnwys teithio i’r gwaith a mwynhad ymwelwyr, nid yn unig rhwng Rhiwabon ac Abermo, ond hefyd ar hyd arfordir y Gorllewin rhwng Bangor a Chaerfyrddin, yn ogystal â’r cyswllt rhwng Caerdydd ac Aberhonddu.
There is a strong lobby of rail enthusiasts—whom you have met, Eleanor, as we all have, I am sure—who have, over the years, campaigned for reopening railways in many parts of Wales for a variety of reasons. These include travelling to work and visitor enjoyment, not only between Ruabon and Barmouth, but also along the west coast of Wales between Bangor and Carmarthen, and also the link between Cardiff and Brecon.
Mae pawb sydd am weld cynllun o’r fath o dan bwysau i ddatblygu cynllun busnes er mwyn gweld beth fyddai’r gost a’r goblygiadau.
Everyone who wishes to see such a scheme is under pressure to develop a business plan in order to see what the cost and the implications would be.
You have mentioned linking communities, which is extremely important. The advantage of access to work and tourism is great. I am concerned about a report that went to the five counties regeneration committee for south-east Wales, that the Ebbw Vale via Islwyn to Cardiff—
Yr ydych wedi sôn am gysylltu cymunedau, sy’n bwysig dros ben. Mae mantais fawr o ran cael mynediad at waith a thwristiaeth. Yr wyf yn bryderus ynghylch adroddiad a aeth gerbron pwyllgor adfywio’r pum sir ar gyfer de-ddwyrain Cymru, fod y llinell o Lynebwy drwy Islwyn i Gaerdydd—
John Marek The Deputy Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 57
John Marek Y Dirprwy Lywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 57
Order. You try my patience, Brian. The question must have some connection with Ruabon and Barmouth.
Trefn. Yr ydych yn trethu fy amynedd, Brian. Rhaid i’r cwestiwn fod â rhyw gysylltiad â Rhiwabon ac Abermo.
It links into the mainstream, so that we can all get to Ruabon and Barmouth. If we are talking about linking areas of Wales and generating access to work and tourism, it is an important point. The report mentions lack of funding and safety issues, and states that it will be 2009 or even later before they can work on this. I am concerned about safety issues that have arisen about the connection at Newport.
Mae’n cysylltu â’r brif ffrwd, fel y gallwn oll gyrraedd Rhiwabon ac Abermo. Os ydym yn sôn am gysylltu ardaloedd yng Nghymru a chreu mynediad at waith a thwristiaeth, mae’n bwynt pwysig. Mae’r adroddiad yn sôn am ddiffyg cyllid a materion diogelwch, ac yn dweud na fydd modd iddynt weithio ar hyn cyn 2009 neu’n hwyrach hyd yn oed. Yr wyf yn bryderus am y materion diogelwch sydd wedi codi ynghylch y cysylltiad yng Nghasnewydd.
I am sure that the Minister will have noted your concerns, Brian.
yn Saesneg Yr wyf yn sicr y bydd y Gweinidog wedi nodi’ch pryderon, Brian.
O ran ailagor y rheilffordd o Riwabon i Abermo, nid oes dadansoddiad manwl wedi’i wneud o gost tebygol y cynllun hwn. Fodd bynnag, o ystyried profiad prosiectau tebyg, amcangyfrifwn y byddai’n costio rhwng £2 filiwn a £3 miliwn y filltir lle mae gwely’r trac yn dal i fodoli. Lle nad yw gwely’r trac yn dal i fodoli, amcangyfrifwn ffigur o £6 miliwn y filltir. Os ystyriwch fod 55 milltir o drac rhwng Rhiwabon ac Abermo, cost cynllun o’r fath fyddai tua £300 miliwn. Byddai’r costau hyn yn ddibynnol ar faint o dir y byddai angen ei ailfeddiannu, pwrcasu eiddo sydd wedi ei adeiladu ar y llinell ers iddi gael ei chau, a’r isadeiledd y byddai angen ei adnewyddu a’i ailosod, megis pontydd, argloddiau, hafnau, cyfleusterau gorsafoedd ac offer arwyddo. Felly, byddai cost a goblygiadau unrhyw gynllun o’r fath yn sylweddol.
in Welsh On reopening the Ruabon to Barmouth railway line, a detailed analysis of the likely cost of this scheme is not available. However, considering the experience of similar projects, we estimate that it would cost between £2 million and £3 million per mile where the trackbed still exists. Where the trackbed does not exist, we estimate a figure of £6 million per mile. If you consider that there are 55 miles of track between Ruabon and Barmouth, the cost of such a scheme would be about £300 million. These costs would depend on the amount of land that would need to be reacquired, the purchase of property that had been built on the line since its closure, and the infrastructure that would need to be renovated or replaced, such as bridges, embankments, cuttings, station facilities and signalling equipment. Therefore, the cost and implications of any such scheme would be significant.
Mewn dadl fer ym mis Mai 2001, cyfeiriodd Janet Ryder at gynlluniau i estyn rheilffordd Llangollen i Gorwen a Rhiwabon. Bu i chi gyfeirio at hynny, Eleanor. Mae’r llinell ymwelwyr yn rhedeg ar hyn o bryd rhwng Llangollen a Charrog ac yn dilyn peth o lwybr y trac gwreiddiol rhwng Rhiwabon ac Abermo am saith milltir a hanner. Yn dilyn hynny, cyflwynodd Janet gwestiwn yn gynharach eleni yn gofyn faint o gymorth fyddai’r Cynulliad yn ei roi i helpu rheilffordd Llangollen. Esboniodd y Gweinidog ar y pryd nad oedd unrhyw gymorth ar gael gan y Cynulliad ar gyfer y prosiect hwn. Ni chafodd gwely’r trac ei ddiogelu yn y gorffennol a bu rhywfaint o ddatblygiadau ar hyd y llinell ers hynny. Byddai’n anodd ac yn ddrud, felly, i adfer y llinell, a byddai angen gwneud achos economaidd cryf dros wneud hynny.
in Welsh In a short debate in May 2001, Janet Ryder referred to plans to extend the Llangollen railway to Corwen and Ruabon. You have referred to that, Eleanor. The tourist line currently runs between Llangollen and Carrog, and follows some of the original track’s route between Ruabon and Barmouth for seven and a half miles. Janet subsequently tabled a question earlier this year asking how much assistance the Assembly would give to help Llangollen railway. The Minister explained at the time that no assistance would be forthcoming for this project from the Assembly. The trackbed had not been maintained in the past and there have been some developments along the line since then. It would therefore be difficult and expensive to restore the railway line, and a strong economic case would have to be made to do so.
Yn anffodus, mae’r cyfyngiadau ar y gyllideb drafnidiaeth yn ein rhwystro rhag cyllido’r math o brosiectau isadeiledd y soniwch amdanynt. Rhaid inni roi blaenoriaeth i gynnal llinellau sydd yn bodoli eisoes, llinellau sy’n cynnal digon o deithwyr ar hyn o bryd, a llinellau y gallem eu gwella ar gyfer trenau teithwyr. Er enghraifft, gwnawn hyn eisoes gyda’n cynlluniau i ailagor llinell Bro Morgannwg ac adfer y trên i Lynebwy.
in Welsh Unfortunately, restrictions on the transport budget prevent us from funding the kind of infrastructure projects that you mention. We must give priority to maintaining existing lines, lines that currently serve a sufficient number of travellers, and lines that could be improved for passenger trains. For example, we are already doing this with our plans to reopen the Vale of Glamorgan railway line and to restore the train to Ebbw Vale.
You also mentioned the Strategic Rail Authority. No financial support can be offered by the SRA or Railtrack, in administration, to support restoring a link to Ruabon. Llangollen railway is privately owned and is classified as a steam heritage railway. It does not form an integral part of the UK rail network and cannot therefore be part of the Wales franchise. However, as you know, the Heritage Commission, the Wales Tourist Board and the European regional development fund have provided support to the Llangollen railway. This funding has been used to develop the route and facilities between Llangollen and Carrog, but not to establish a link to the main rail network at either Ruabon or Barmouth.
yn Saesneg Bu ichi sôn hefyd am yr Awdurdod Rheilffyrdd Strategol. Ni all yr awdurdod na Railtrack, sydd dan orchymyn gweinyddu, gynnig cymorth ariannol i helpu adfer cyswllt â Rhiwabon. Mae rheilffordd Llangollen yn eiddo preifat ac fe’i dynodwyd yn rheilffordd dreftadaeth ager. Nid yw’n rhan annatod o rwydwaith rheilffyrdd y DU ac felly ni all fod yn rhan o fasnachfraint Cymru. Fodd bynnag, fel y gwyddoch, mae’r Comisiwn Treftadaeth, Bwrdd Croeso Cymru a chronfa datblygu rhanbarthol Ewrop wedi cynorthwyo rheilffordd Llangollen. Defnyddiwyd yr arian hwnnw i ddatblygu’r llwybr a’r cyfleusterau rhwng Llangollen a Charrog, ond nid i sefydlu cyswllt â’r prif rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd yn Rhiwabon neu Abermo.
It is interesting to note in this context that a connection to Ruabon is not included in the transport plans of either Denbighshire County Council or Wrexham County Borough Council. Denbighshire council explained that, with regard to Llangollen, the unitary development plan aims to safeguard the former trackbed and adjoining land for the extension of the railway from Carrog to Corwen, in the direction of Barmouth, and the provision of a terminus and associated facilities for Corwen. There is no mention of an eastward extension toward Ruabon.
yn Saesneg Mae’n ddiddorol nodi yn y cyd-destun hwn nad yw’r cyswllt â Rhiwabon wedi’i gynnwys yng nghynlluniau trafnidiaeth Cyngor Sir Ddinbych na Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Wrecsam. Eglurodd Cyngor Sir Ddinbych, mewn perthynas â Llangollen, fod y cynllun datblygu unedol yn ceisio diogelu’r hen drac a’r tir cyfagos ar gyfer ymestyn y rheilffordd o Garrog i Gorwen, i gyfeiriad Abermo, a darparu gorsaf derfynol a chyfleusterau cysylltiedig ar gyfer Corwen. Nid oes sôn am ei hymestyn i’r dwyrain tua Rhiwabon.
The Welsh Assembly Government is pleased that steps have been taken to resume the process of establishing a Wales and borders rail franchise, possibly with a 15-year franchise as you mentioned. We expect this franchise to be in place as quickly as possible and for it to lead to real improvements in services, making a positive contribution to economic growth, accessibility and mobility in Wales. The development of a single Wales and borders franchise will offer greater operational flexibility to the successful operator, particularly given the reduction in competition for key rail paths. The Assembly will work closely with the SRA to ensure that we have an operator that will, over time, introduce improved services in line with our commitments in the transport framework, reflecting the recommendations of the public transport review undertaken by the Envrionment, Planning and Transport Committee. Unfortunately, as I explained, this does not leave room, financially, for us or the SRA to support re-opening the line from Ruabon to Barmouth to passengers. Thank you for raising this matter in the Assembly.
yn Saesneg Mae Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru’n falch bod camau wedi’u cymryd i ailafael yn y broses o sefydlu masnachfraint reilffyrdd i Gymru a’r gororau, gyda masnachfraint 15 mlynedd o bosibl, fel y gwnaethoch sôn. Disgwyliwn y bydd y fasnachfraint hon ar waith mor fuan ag y bo modd ac y bydd yn arwain at welliannau gwirioneddol i wasanaethau, gan gyfrannu’n gadarnhaol at dwf economaidd, hygyrchedd a symudedd yng Nghymru. Bydd datblygu masnachfraint sengl i Gymru a’r gororau’n cynnig mwy o hyblygrwydd wrth weithredu i’r gweithredwr llwyddiannus, yn enwedig o ystyried y gostyngiad yn y cystadlu am brif lwybrau’r rheilffyrdd. Bydd y Cynulliad yn cydweithio’n agos â’r Awdurdod Rheilffyrdd Strategol i sicrhau y cawn weithredwr a fydd, dros amser, yn cyflwyno gwell gwasanaethau’n unol â’n hymrwymiadau yn y fframwaith trafnidiaeth, gan adlewyrchu argymhellion yr adolygiad o drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus a wnaed gan Bwyllgor yr Amgylchedd, Cynllunio a Thrafnidiaeth. Gwaetha’r modd, fel yr eglurais, nid yw hyn yn gadael lle, yn ariannol, i ni nac i’r Awdurdod Rheilffyrdd Strategol roi cymorth i ailagor y llinell o Riwabon i Abermo` i deithwyr. Diolch ichi am godi’r mater hwn yn y Cynulliad.
Anerchiad gan Ei Mawrhydi, y Frenhines
Address by Her Majesty the Queen
Dafydd Elis-Thomas The Presiding Officer spoken in Welsh and English p. 60
Dafydd Elis-Thomas Y Llywydd siaradwyd yn Gymraeg ac yn Saesneg t. 60
Three years ago, your Majesty, you did us the honour of giving our National Assembly a great start in life with a memorable royal opening. It is with great pleasure that we welcome you back with the Duke of Edinburgh, the Earl of Meirionydd, in this, your Golden Jubilee year.
yn Saesneg Dair blynedd yn ôl, eich Mawrhydi, bu ichi ein hanrhydeddu drwy roi cychwyniad gwych i’n Cynulliad Cenedlaethol gydag agoriad brenhinol cofiadwy. Pleser mawr i ni yw’ch croesawu’n ôl gyda Dug Caeredin, Iarll Meirionnydd, ym mlwyddyn eich Jiwbilî Aur eleni.
Mae eich ymweliad heddiw yn gyfle i ni yn y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol gofnodi ein diolchgarwch am eich gwaith dros Gymru, y Deyrnas Unedig a’r Gymanwlad drwy gydol eich teyrnasiad. Yn bersonol, yr oeddwn wedi fy nghyffwrdd yn fawr ichi osod ysbrydolrwydd, a gwasanaeth i eraill, wrth galon eich dathliadau Jiwbilî. Braint oedd cael cynrychioli’r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol, ynghyd â’m cyd-Lywyddion o’r Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon, mewn gwasanaeth bythgofiadwy yn Eglwys Gadeiriol St Paul. Yr wyf yn sicr y gwnewch chi gytuno bod cyfraniad Huw Williams, yr organydd gwych o Gymru, wedi ychwanegu at wefr gerddorol yr achlysur hwnnw.
in Welsh Your visit today gives us an opportunity to put on record in this National Assembly our gratitude for your work for Wales, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth throughout your reign. Speaking personally, I was very moved that you placed spirituality, and service to others, at the centre of your Jubilee celebrations. It was a privilege for me to represent the National Assembly, along with my fellow Presiding Officers from Scotland and Northern Ireland, at a memorable service in St Paul’s Cathedral. I am sure that you will agree that the musical joy of the occasion was enhanced by Huw Williams, the brilliant Welsh organist.
Less grand, but no less joyful, was the service at St Mary’s Church, Swansea, which the Prince of Wales and Princes William and Harry graciously attended. This week, you shared with us an inspiring service at that most ancient of Christian sites, St Deiniol’s Cathedral in Bangor. It was also a personal delight to me that your Majesty chose to travel the north Wales line by the royal train, hauled by a steam locomotive.
yn Saesneg Llai mawreddog, ond yr un mor llawen, oedd y gwasanaeth yn Eglwys Fair, Abertawe, y bu Tywysog Cymru a’r Tywysogion William a Harry mor raslon ag ymbresenoli ynddo. Yr wythnos hon, bu ichi rhannu gwasanaeth ysbrydoledig â ni yn y fangre Gristnogol dra hynafol honno, Eglwys Gadeiriol Deiniol Sant ym Mangor. Hyfrydwch personol i mi hefyd oedd bod eich Mawrhydi wedi dewis teithio ar linell y Gogledd yn y trên brenhinol, wedi’i dynnu gan locomotif ager.
Today it is my pleasure to invite you to address National Assembly Members. Her Majesty the Queen.
yn Saesneg Fy mhleser i heddiw yw eich gwahodd i annerch Aelodau’r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol. Ei Mawrhydi, y Frenhines.
Mr Presiding Officer, Members of the National Assembly for Wales, it is my pleasure to address you on the last day of what has been a wonderful tour of Wales. The Duke of Edinburgh and I have greatly appreciated the welcome that we have received in the places we have visited, large and small, from Bangor to Newport.
Lywydd, Aelodau Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, mae’n bleser gennyf eich annerch ar y diwrnod olaf o’r hyn a fu’n daith ragorol drwy Gymru. Mae Dug Caeredin a minnau wedi tra gwerthfawrogi’r croeso a gawsom yn y lleoedd mawr a mân yr ymwelasom â hwy, o Fangor i Gasnewydd.
Here in Cardiff bay, we can see around us the imprint of the history of Wales. A thousand years ago, this was a piece of marsh ground forming part of the disputed kingdom of Glamorgan, ruled over by descendants of Rhodri the Great. One hundred years ago, in the first year of my great-grandfather’s reign, this site was part of one of the busiest ports in the world, exporting almost 19 million tonnes of coal from the thriving pits of south Wales.
Yma ym mae Caerdydd, gallwn weld argraff hanes Cymru o’n cwmpas. Fil o flynyddoedd yn ôl, darn o gors oedd hwn a oedd yn rhan o deyrnas ddadleuol Morgannwg, a reolid gan ddisgynyddion Rhodri Fawr. Gan mlynedd yn ôl, ym mlwyddyn gyntaf teyrnasiad fy hen daid, yr oedd y fangre hon yn rhan o un o’r porthladdoedd prysuraf yn y byd, a allforiai ymron i 19 miliwn o dunelli metrig o lo o lofeydd ffyniannus de Cymru.
When I came to the throne, Cardiff’s port had already begun to change. The rise and fall of businesses due to the vagaries of supply and demand, and to alterations in the use of raw materials or in technology, are never easy. However, Wales is overcoming its difficulties. Over the last decade, new life has been breathed into this area. Hotels, marinas, exhibition centres, restaurants and residential and commercial properties have replaced the docks of the past.
Pan ddeuthum i’r orsedd, yr oedd porthladd Caerdydd eisoes wedi dechrau newid. Nid yw cynnydd a chwymp busnesau oherwydd y troeon yn y galw a’r cyflenwad, a newidiadau yn y defnydd o ddeunyddiau crai neu mewn technoleg, byth yn rhwydd. Fodd bynnag, mae Cymru’n goresgyn ei thrafferthion. Dros y degawd diwethaf, ailfywiogwyd yr ardal hon. Mae gwestai, marinâu, canolfannau arddangos, bwytai ac adeiladau preswyl a masnachol wedi cymryd lle’r dociau a fu.
Opposite this Assembly building, the new Wales Millennium Centre, which will be a base for the Welsh National Opera and other important cultural institutions, is being built where railway lines once ran. The growth and innovation in Cardiff bay is also found elsewhere in Wales. More than 70,000 people are now employed by overseas companies that have been attracted here.
Gyferbyn ag adeilad y Cynulliad, codir Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru, a fydd yn gartref i Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru a sefydliadau diwylliannol pwysig eraill, lle y bu llinellau rheilffordd yn rhedeg ar un adeg. Gwelir y twf a’r arloesedd a geir ym mae Caerdydd mewn mannau eraill yng Nghymru hefyd. Bellach, cyflogir mwy na 70,000 o bobl mewn cwmnïau tramor a ddenwyd yma.
In this Chamber, you are forging a new element in the constitution of this country, following the steady evolution of the way Wales has been governed over the last 50 years. The significance of the change that occurred in 1998 was that administrative devolution was replaced by a system which was to be more accountable to the electorate. It is an example of how our system of government can adjust to new demands peacefully and democratically.
Yn y Siambr hon, yr ydych yn ffurfio elfen newydd yng nghyfansoddiad y wlad hon, gan ddilyn y datblygu cyson a fu yn y dull o lywodraethu Cymru dros y 50 mlynedd diwethaf. Pwysigrwydd y newid a fu yn 1998 oedd bod datganoli gweinyddol wedi’i ddisodli gan system a oedd i fod yn fwy atebol i’r etholwyr. Mae’n enghraifft o’r modd y gall ein system o lywodraeth addasu i ofynion newydd yn heddychlon ac yn ddemocrataidd.
I am not sure what Rhodri the Great, or indeed King Edward VII, would have made of this Assembly, or of present day Wales, but, as your Queen, I follow with great interest the work of the Parliaments and Assemblies of the United Kingdom. I hope and pray that you, as Members of the National Assembly for Wales, will continue to work together to serve the common good and the people of this proud and beautiful land. [Applause.]
Nid wyf yn sicr beth a feddyliai Rhodri Mawr, neu’n wir y Brenin Edward VII, am y Cynulliad hwn, neu am y Gymru gyfoes, ond, fel eich Brenhines, yr wyf yn dilyn gyda diddordeb waith Seneddau a Chynulliadau’r Deyrnas Unedig. Gobeithiaf a gweddïaf y byddwch chi, fel Aelodau Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, yn parhau i weithio gyda’ch gilydd er budd holl bobl y wlad falch a phrydferth hon. [Cymeradwyaeth.]
Rhodri Morgan Prif Weinidog Cymru siaradwyd yn Gymraeg ac yn Saesneg t. 62
Rhodri Morgan The First Minister spoken in Welsh and English p. 62
Eich Mawrhydi, diolch am eich geiriau caredig a’ch cymeradwyaeth i’n gweithgareddau
in Welsh Your Majesty, thank you for your kind words and for your endorsement of our activities.
You are celebrating your Golden Jubilee and heading expectantly and confidently forward to your Diamond Jubilee. We are a new institution barely three years old. We are only celebrating our anthracite Jubilee but, as any geologist will tell you, in time and under the pressure of events, anthracite will turn into diamond, if not gold. We are new, one of the youngest democracies in the world, but our national flag, y Ddraig Goch, is the oldest. We are unique in that respect; the only nation in the world to enter the third millennium with the same national flag with which we entered the second millennium. Y Ddraig Goch was already recognised in the age of Rhodri Fawr. Dewi Sant, our patron saint, had emerged as a towering Christian figure some centuries before. The Eisteddfod came about slightly later, and, later again, the three feathers. The leek became a national emblem around the time of Owain Glyndŵr, although partially supplanted by the greater delicacy of the daffodil at the 1911 investiture ceremony in Caernarfon. This was a masterpiece of floral spin over vegetable substance by David Lloyd George, one of the giants of Welsh, British and European politics.
yn Saesneg Yr ydych yn dathlu’ch Jiwbilî Aur ac yn anelu’n ddisgwylgar ac yn hyderus am eich Jiwbilî Ddeimwnt. Yr ydym ni’n sefydliad newydd sy’n brin deirblwydd oed. Nid ydym ni ond yn dathlu ein Jiwbilî glo carreg ond, fel y dywed unrhyw ddaearegwr wrthych, ymhen amser ac o dan bwysau digwyddiadau, try glo carreg yn ddeimwnt, os nad yn aur. Yr ydym ni’n newydd, yn un o’r democratiaethau ieuengaf yn y byd, ond ein baner genedlaethol, y Ddraig Goch, yw’r hynaf. Yr ydym yn unigryw yn hynny o beth; yr unig genedl yn y byd i fynd i’r trydydd mileniwm â’r un faner genedlaethol ag a oedd gennym wrth fynd i’r ail. Yr oedd y Ddraig Goch eisoes yn gyfarwydd yn oes Rhodri Fawr. Yr oedd Dewi Sant, ein nawddsant, wedi codi’n gawr o ffigwr Cristnogol rai canrifoedd ynghynt. Daeth yr Eisteddfod ychydig yn ddiweddarach ac, yn ddiweddarach byth, y tair pluen. Daeth y genhinen yn arwyddlun cenedlaethol tuag adeg Owain Glyndŵr, er iddi gael ei disodli’n rhannol gan y genhinen Bedr fwy llednais yn seremoni’r arwisgo yn 1911 yng Nghaernarfon. Yr oedd hynny’n gampwaith o greu delwedd flodeuol ar draul sylwedd llysieuol gan David Lloyd George, un o gewri gwleidyddiaeth Cymru, Prydain ac Ewrop.
Our national anthem, Hen Wlad fy Nhadau, emerged in the industrial era, as did the red jersey worn with such pride over the years by our national rugby, football and other sports teams, and borrowed with such great and victorious effect—along with two Owens—by England in the match against Argentina last week. While on the subject of sport, if there is one complaint about this Golden Jubilee—this is the only chance I will have to refer to it—it is that in 1952 Wales won the triple crown and, in 1977, your Silver Jubilee year, Wales won the triple crown again. What went wrong with this arrangement in 2002?
yn Saesneg Ymddangosodd ein hanthem genedlaethol, Hen Wlad fy Nhadau, yn yr oes ddiwydiannol, fel y gwnaeth y crys coch a wisgir gyda’r fath falchder dros y blynyddoedd gan ein timau cenedlaethol mewn rygbi, pêl-droed a chwaraeon eraill, ac a fenthyciwyd gyda’r fath effaith fawr a buddugoliaethus—ynghyd â dau Owen—gan Loegr yn y gêm yn erbyn yr Ariannin yr wythnos diwethaf. Wrth sôn am chwaraeon, os oes cwyn ynghylch y Jiwbilî Aur hon—dyma’r unig gyfle a gaf i gyfeirio ati—honno yw bod Cymru wedi ennill y goron driphlyg yn 1952, a’i bod, yn 1977, ym mlwyddyn eich Jiwbilî Arian, wedi ennill y goron driphlyg eto. Beth a aeth o’i le ar y trefniant hwn yn 2002?
Wales entered the third millennium with all these symbols of our pride in our nationhood, but with one key missing element added—our National Assembly and the ability to run our own domestic devolved agenda. You are the reigning Monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is a very long name, not as long as Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll-llantysiliogogogoch, but nevertheless a long name for a nation state. Devolution is perhaps implicit in that name. Its day had to come, and it finally arrived in 1999 by a series of narrow squeaks and miracles, and you were here to open the National Assembly for Wales three years ago.
yn Saesneg Aeth Cymru i’r trydydd mileniwm gyda’r holl symbolau hyn o’n balchder yn ein cenedligrwydd, a chydag un elfen goll yn ychwanegol—ein Cynulliad Cenedlaethol a’r gallu i redeg ein hagenda ddatganoledig fewnol ein hunain. Chwi yw Brenhines deyrnasol Teyrnas Unedig Prydain Fawr a Gogledd Iwerddon. Mae’n enw hir iawn, nid cyn hwyed â Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll-llantysiliogogogoch, ond yn enw hir er hynny ar genedl-wladwriaeth. Efallai fod datganoli ymhlyg yn yr enw hwnnw. Yr oedd ei ddydd yn siŵr o ddod, ac fe ddaeth o’r diwedd yn 1999 drwy gyfres o ddiangfeydd cyfyng a gwyrthiau, ac yr oeddech yma i agor Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru dair blynedd yn ôl.
I ask myself sometimes when will this Assembly be hallowed in the same way in Wales as our national anthem, our patron saint, the Eisteddfod, the leek, the daffodil, the three feathers, the red jersey and y Ddraig Goch? Perhaps it will be long after you have surpassed your Diamond Jubilee, and certainly long after I am boring fellow denizens of the saloon bar witless with my political war stories. One day, the number of people who say ‘Thank God we live in Wales’, will exceed the number who say ‘What has the Assembly ever done for us?’. We are laying the foundations now. If we apply ourselves with faith in our future, that day will dawn.
yn Saesneg Gofynnaf i mi fy hun weithiau pa bryd y caiff y Cynulliad hwn ei sancteiddio yn yr un modd yng Nghymru â’n hanthem genedlaethol, ein nawddsant, yr Eisteddfod, y genhinen, y genhinen Bedr, y tair pluen, y crys coch a’r Ddraig Goch? Efallai y bydd hynny ymhell ar ôl ichi fynd heibio i’ch Jiwbilî Ddeimwnt, ac ymhell yn sicr ar ôl imi bod yn diflasu cyd-ffyddloniaid y bar salŵn yn lân â’m straeon rhyfel gwleidyddol. Ryw ddiwrnod, bydd nifer y sawl sy’n dweud ‘Diolch i Dduw ein bod yn byw yng Nghymru’, yn fwy na’r nifer sy’n dweud, ‘Beth a wnaeth y Cynulliad i ni erioed?’ Yr ydym yn gosod y sylfeini’n awr. Os ymrown â ffydd yn ein dyfodol, fe ddaw’r dydd hwnnw.
Rwy’n gweld o bell y dydd yn dod.
in Welsh I see the distant day approaching.
Together, we will make a success of our new democracy. [Applause.]
yn Saesneg Gyda’n gilydd, fe wnawn lwyddiant o’n democratiaeth newydd. [Cymeradwyaeth.]
Daeth yr anerchiad i ben am 4.20 p.m.
The address ended at 4.20 p.m.
Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 3.08 p.m.
The session ended at 3.08 p.m.