Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
When I launched the Welsh Government’s Nation of Sanctuary plan in early 2019, we made a commitment to do whatever we could to avoid destitution and reduce or mitigate the impacts of poverty for people seeking sanctuary. Part of that ambition was to look at options to support those who have been refused asylum but are unable to secure refugee status or return to their country of origin.


Today, we are publishing the findings of a feasibility study which we commissioned to look at what could be achieved within our devolved powers to identify sustainable outcomes for these individuals. Sustainable outcomes can include someone assembling their asylum case with the benefit of legal advice and achieving refugee status, submitting a fresh appeal which enables them to re\-enter the asylum system, or being supported to return home to their country of origin.


The feasibility study was authored by Heather Petch – an expert in support for those refused asylum – and Tamsin Stirling – an expert in the Welsh housing sector. Together they have proposed nine recommendations for the Welsh Government and partners to take forward, with the aim of increasing the supply of informal ‘hosting’ arrangements, coupled with legal advice and appropriate safeguarding arrangements. Further recommendations seek the promotion of the Nation of Sanctuary concept across housing and homelessness sectors, developing accessibility to emergency accommodation options, and seeking to influence Home Office policy to prevent the most harmful outcomes for individuals. We intend to implement each of these recommendations, to continue our work towards becoming a Nation of Sanctuary.


We have long recognised that many asylum seekers do not have access to good quality legal advice. This is often the cause of many refused initial claims for asylum and can undermine the ability of refused asylum seekers to appeal successfully despite valid grounds. We have funded Asylum Justice since 2017, as part of the Asylum Rights Programme, to provide legal advice to those who cannot access Legal Aid, including many refused asylum seekers. However, last year we provided an additional £25000 to Asylum Justice, coupled with a further £50000 in 2020/21 to address the substantial gaps in legal advice. Advice may support a fresh asylum claim, the establishment of medical evidence or facilitate access to necessary documentation, amongst other advice. Closures of several Legal Aid solicitors in Wales in recent months has exacerbated the lack of access to timely quality immigration legal advice. We will soon commission further research to look at gaps in immigration legal advice across Wales.


Wales will benefit from an increased capacity to provide safe temporary shelter and legal advice to those who have been refused asylum and have no recourse to homelessness support or social security payments. This should only ever be a temporary arrangement for an individual to take stock of their options and decide how to proceed with the benefit of a roof over their head and timely legal advice, rather than homelessness and at risk of exploitation.


Since the feasibility study was commissioned, the plight of those who have No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) \- including refused asylum seekers \- has been further highlighted during the current Covid\-19 pandemic. During the pandemic we have encouraged local authorities to provide accommodation to anyone who needs it, regardless of their immigration status. This is not only a moral solution \- it makes good public health sense. As Covid\-19 restrictions are gradually lifted, there will be a continued need to provide this type of support as homeless individuals will not be able to self\-isolate without accommodation. Nevertheless, UK Government Immigration Rules mean that this type of accommodation cannot be offered in the long\-term.


The adoption of the feasibility study recommendations will provide a key element of an ‘exit’ strategy to support those who have NRPF who have been brought into emergency accommodation. As the UK Government position remains unchanged, these individuals will not be able to access permanent housing until their immigration status is secured. An explicit ‘exit’ plan is therefore needed to support these individuals beyond the pandemic and the recommendations in the feasibility study provide part of such a plan.


The feasibility study recommends that we develop accessibility to emergency accommodation options and referral routes to support pathways out of destitution. We will shortly commission guidance to improve local authority understanding of the eligibility of those the NRPF to access services and what support can be offered. We will also procure training on migrant rights and entitlements as part of the EU Citizens’ Rights Project. The training will ensure front\-line officers understand how to support those with a complex set of circumstances from having NRPF, to having Settled or Pre\-settled status, or other forms of insecure immigration status.


This approach recognises our common humanity and seeks to provide dignity and protection from exploitation for those who have been refused asylum. Some of those supported will not have a realistic prospect of achieving refugee status and we will advise them about how to return home safely, whilst others will access the advice they have needed to evidence the persecution they have escaped. Either way, implementing these recommendations will give these individuals agency over their own lives and ensure we recognise the individual before immigration status when responding to those in need.  


This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep members informed. Should members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns I would be happy to do so.


Feasibility study: https://gov.wales/accommodation\-refused\-asylum\-seekers\-feasibility\-study







Translation:


 
Pan lansiais gynllun Cenedl Noddfa Llywodraeth Cymru ddechrau 2019, gwnaethom ymrwymiad i wneud popeth o fewn ein gallu i ofalu nad yw pobl sy’n ceisio noddfa yn ddiymgeledd ac i leihau effeithiau eu tlodi. Fel rhan o’r uchelgais hwnnw, roeddem am ystyried yr opsiynau i gefnogi’r rheini y gwrthodwyd lloches iddynt ond na roddir statws ffoaduriaid iddynt ac na allant ddychwelyd i’w gwlad eu hunain.


Heddiw, rydym yn cyhoeddi casgliadau astudiaeth ddichonoldeb a gomisiynwyd gennym i edrych ar yr hyn y gellid ei wneud drwy ein pwerau datganoledig i sicrhau opsiynau cynaliadwy ar gyfer yr unigolion hyn. Gallai’r opsiynau hyn gynnwys creu achos lloches iddynt ar sail cyngor cyfreithiol a sicrhau statws ffoaduriaid, cyflwyno apêl newydd sy’n eu galluogi i fynd drwy’r system loches unwaith eto, neu eu cefnogi wrth iddynt ddychwelyd i’w gwlad eu hunain.


Awduron yr astudiaeth ddichonoldeb yw Heather Petch – arbenigwraig yn y cymorth sydd ar gael i’r rheini y gwrthodir lloches iddynt – a Tamsin Stirling – arbenigwraig yn sector tai Cymru. Gyda’i gilydd, maent wedi cynnig naw argymhelliad i Lywodraeth Cymru a’i phartneriaid eu gweithredu, gyda’r nod o gynyddu trefniadau anffurfiol i ofalu am yr unigolion hyn, ynghyd â chyngor cyfreithiol a threfniadau priodol i’w diogelu. Mae argymhellion pellach yn ymwneud â hyrwyddo’r cysyniad o Genedl Noddfa ar draws y sectorau tai a digartrefedd, datblygu trefniadau o ran opsiynau llety argyfwng, a cheisio dylanwadu ar bolisi Swyddfa Gartref y DU i warchod unigolion rhag y sefyllfaoedd mwyaf niweidiol. Rydym yn bwriadu gweithredu pob un o’r argymhellion hyn, er mwyn symud ymlaen tuag at ein nod o fod yn Genedl Noddfa.


Rydym yn cydnabod ers tro nad oes cyngor cyfreithiol o ansawdd da ar gael i lawer o geiswyr lloches. Yn aml, dyma’r rheswm pam y mae llawer o geisiadau am loches yn cael eu gwrthod yn y lle cyntaf, a gall danseilio gallu’r unigolion hynny i apelio’n llwyddiannus er gwaethaf y sail ddilys sydd i’w cais. Rydym wedi cyllido Asylum Justice ers 2017, fel rhan o Raglen Hawliau Lloches, i ddarparu cyngor cyfreithiol i’r rheini nad oes Cymorth Cyfreithiol ar gael iddynt, gan gynnwys llawer y gwrthodwyd lloches iddynt. Fodd bynnag, y llynedd rhoesom £25000 yn ychwanegol i Asylum Justice, ynghyd â £50000 yn 2020/21 er mwyn mynd i’r afael â’r bylchau sylweddol o ran cyngor cyfreithiol. Efallai y bydd y cyngor a roddir yn cefnogi cais newydd am loches, yn helpu i sefydlu tystiolaeth feddygol neu’n hwyluso mynediad at ddogfennau angenrheidiol. Mae sawl cyfreithiwr Cymorth Cyfreithiol yng Nghymru wedi cau dros y misoedd diwethaf, ac mae hynny wedi ei gwneud yn anoddach byth i fewnfudwyr gael gafael ar gyngor cyfreithiol amserol o ansawdd. Rydym am fynd ati’n fuan i gomisiynu gwaith ymchwil pellach i edrych ar y bylchau o ran cyngor cyfreithiol i fewnfudwyr ledled Cymru.


Bydd cynyddu’r capasiti i ddarparu llety diogel dros dro a chyngor cyfreithiol i’r rheini y gwrthodwyd lloches iddynt ac nad oes cymorth digartrefedd ar gael iddynt na thaliadau nawdd cymdeithasol yn beth buddiol i Gymru. Trefniant dros dro yn unig ddylai hwn fod i unigolyn gael ystyried ei opsiynau a phenderfynu sut i symud ymlaen, a hynny â tho uwch ei ben a chyngor cyfreithiol amserol ar gael iddo, yn hytrach na’i fod yn ddigartref ac mewn perygl o gael ei ecsbloetio.


Ers i’r astudiaeth ddichonoldeb gael ei chomisiynu, tynnwyd sylw ymhellach at sefyllfa’r rheini nad oes ganddynt hawl i gyllid cyhoeddus – gan gynnwys y rheini y gwrthodir lloches iddynt – yn ystod pandemig Covid\-19\. Yn ystod y pandemig, rydym wedi annog awdurdodau lleol i ddarparu llety i unrhyw un sydd ei angen, beth bynnag ei statws mewnfudo. Nid cwestiwn moesol yw hwn yn unig – mae’n gwneud synnwyr o ran iechyd cyhoeddus. Wrth i gyfyngiadau Covid\-19 gael eu llacio’n raddol, bydd yr angen i ddarparu’r math hwn o gymorth yn parhau gan na fydd modd i unigolion digartref hunanynysu heb lety. Serch hynny, mae Rheolau Mewnfudo Llywodraeth y DU yn golygu na ellir cynnig y math hwn o lety yn y tymor hir.


Bydd mabwysiadu argymhellion yr astudiaeth ddichonoldeb yn sicrhau elfen allweddol mewn unrhyw strategaeth i gefnogi’r rheini nad oes ganddynt hawl i gyllid cyhoeddus ac a roddwyd mewn llety argyfwng wrth edrych i’r dyfodol. Gan nad yw safbwynt Llywodraeth y DU wedi newid, ni fydd llety parhaol ar gael i’r unigolion hyn nes y bydd eu statws mewnfudo wedi’i ddiogelu. Mae angen cynllun penodol, felly, i gefnogi’r unigolion hyn y tu hwnt i’r pandemig, ac mae argymhellion yr astudiaeth ddichonoldeb yn cynnig rhan o gynllun o’r fath.


Mae’r astudiaeth ddichonoldeb yn awgrymu y dylem ddatblygu trefniadau o ran opsiynau llety argyfwng a llwybrau cyfeirio i warchod unigolion. Cyn hir byddwn yn comisiynu canllawiau i wella dealltwriaeth awdurdodau lleol o ran y gwasanaethau a’r cymorth y gellir ei gynnig i’r rheini nad oes ganddynt hawl i gyllid cyhoeddus. Byddwn hefyd yn trefnu hyfforddiant ar hawliau mudwyr fel rhan o Brosiect Hawliau Dinasyddion yr UE. Bydd hyn yn sicrhau bod swyddogion y rheng flaen yn deall sut i gefnogi’r rheini sydd mewn amgylchiadau cymhleth, p’un a ydynt heb hawl i gyllid cyhoeddus, neu â statws preswylydd sefydlog neu gyn\-sefydlog, neu â mathau eraill o statws mewnfudo.


Mae’r dull gweithredu hwn yn cydnabod ein dynoliaeth gyffredin, a’r nod yw rhoi urddas i’r rheini y gwrthodwyd lloches iddynt a’u gwarchod rhag cael eu hecsbloetio. Ni fydd gan rai obaith realistig o gael statws ffoaduriaid, a byddwn yn rhoi cyngor i’r rheini ynghylch sut i ddychwelyd yn ddiogel i’w cartref. Yn achos eraill, cânt y cyngor sydd ei angen arnynt i gasglu tystiolaeth o’r erledigaeth y maent wedi dianc oddi wrthi. Y naill ffordd neu’r llall, bydd gweithredu’r argymhellion hyn yn rhoi rhywfaint o bŵer i unigolion dros eu bywydau eu hunain, ac yn sicrhau ein bod yn cydnabod yr unigolyn cyn ei statws mewnfudo wrth ymateb i’w anghenion.


Caiff y datganiad ei gyhoeddi yn ystod y toriad er mwyn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i aelodau. Os bydd aelodau eisiau i mi wneud datganiad pellach neu ateb cwestiynau ynglŷn â hyn pan fydd y Senedd yn dychwelyd, byddwn yn hapus i wneud hynny


Astudiaeth ddichonoldeb: https://llyw.cymru/astudiaeth\-ddichonoldeb\-llety\-ar\-gyfer\-ceiswyr\-lloches\-wedi\-eu\-gwrthod