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Mae Rhaglen Lywodraethu Llywodraeth Cymru, a gyhoeddwyd yn 2011, yn gosod sylfaen y Cynllun Gweithredu Trechu Tlodi a fydd yn crynhoi’r ysgogiadau sydd ar gael i Lywodraeth Cymru a’n partneriaid cymdeithasol i helpu cymunedau ac unigolion allan o dlodi.

Rwyf eisoes wedi dweud mai nod y rhaglen Cymunedau yn Gyntaf fydd trechu tlodi mewn cymunedau, ac mae hynny’n wir hefyd am ein Strategaeth Cynhwysiant Ariannol “Mae Pawb yn Cyfrif”. Mae’r ddwy fenter hyn yn rhannau allweddol o ymdrechion Llywodraeth Cymru i drechu tlodi.

Mae’r Strategaeth Cynhwysiant Ariannol wedi galluogi Llywodraeth Cymru i roi arweiniad i’w phartneriaid ar fynd i’r afael ag allgáu ariannol a gorddyledusrwydd yng Nghymru. Mae’n canolbwyntio ar bum thema benodol:

* Mynediad at wasanaethau ariannol prif ffrwd;
* Darparu credyd a gwasanaethau fforddiadwy;
* Gwella mynediad at gyngor ar arian a dyled;
* Cynyddu gallu ariannol; a
* Sicrhau cymaint â phosibl o incwm.

Mae Rhaglen Gyflawni’r Rhaglen Lywodraethu yn cynnwys yr ymrwymiad i “gefnogi darparwyr cyngor y Trydydd Sector i gynorthwyo pobl â phroblemau dyled neu y mae angen help arnynt i reoli eu cyllid”. Mae gwella mynediad at wasanaethau cynghori a ddarperir yn gyson ac yn gyffredinol ledled Cymru yn hanfodol. Mae hyn yn arbennig o berthnasol a ninnau’n disgwyl y newidiadau i’r trefniadau lles a budd\-daliadau sy’n cael eu cyflwyno gan Lywodraeth y DU.

Ar ben y newidiadau i’r system les a budd\-daliadau, mae’r sector cynghori’n wynebu mwy o newidiadau nag erioed, megis terfynu’r Gronfa Cynhwysiant Ariannol, sy’n darparu cyngor wyneb yn wyneb ar ddyled; diwygio cymorth cyfreithiol; y wasgfa ar y cyllid a roddir i wasanaethau cynghori gan lywodraeth leol a’r posibilrwydd o drosglwyddo cyfrifoldebau am faterion defnyddwyr i’r Canolfannau Cyngor ar Bopeth.

Oherwydd anferthedd yr heriau a wynebwn, mae’r Gweinidog Cyllid a minnau wedi cytuno i gynnal adolygiad trwyadl o wasanaethau cynghori yng Nghymru. Yn allweddol i hyn fydd ceisio mewnbwn gan arbenigwyr yn y maes, defnyddwyr a chyllidwyr y gwasanaethau, a rhanddeiliaid allweddol eraill. Bydd datganiad arall yn cael ei wneud yn y gwanwyn ynghylch cwmpas yr adolygiad a’r amserlen arfaethedig ar gyfer cyhoeddi’r canfyddiadau.

Yn y cyfamser, rwyf yn ddiweddar wedi cyhoeddi pecyn cyllid sylweddol ar gyfer Cyngor ar Bopeth Cymru: mae’n darparu mwy na £100,000 i gynnal y gwasanaeth ffôn Llinell Gymorth Cymru yn 2011\-12 ac yn cydgrynhoi cynlluniau defnyddio budd\-daliadau presennol Llywodraeth Cymru (Cyngor Da: Iechyd Da, Defnyddio Budd\-daliadau ar gyfer Plant ag Anableddau, Defnyddio Budd\-dal y Dreth Gyngor a Defnyddio Budd\-dal Tai) er mwyn gwella’r gwasanaethau cynghori sydd ar gael yng Nghymru. Bydd yr ymrwymiad ariannol i’r gwasanaeth hwn yn werth £2\.2 filiwn y flwyddyn am dair blynedd, o Ebrill 2012\.

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru hefyd yn cydnabod bod Swyddfeydd Post yn darparu ystod o wasanaethau sy’n helpu i atal allgáu ariannol, megis mynediad am ddim at arian parod a gwasanaethau bancio mewn cymunedau sy’n anghysbell neu wedi colli banc stryd fawr o ganlyniad i raglenni cau canghennau. Yn ddiweddar, ailagorais y Gronfa Arallgyfeirio Swyddfeydd Post, gan gyhoeddi bod £2 filiwn arall yn mynd i fod ar gael dros dair blynedd i swyddfeydd post lleol i wella cynaliadwyedd cyffredinol y rhwydwaith. Nod y Gronfa Arallgyfeirio Swyddfeydd Post yw annog swyddfeydd post i arallgyfeirio ac i wella’r busnesau manwerthu sydd ynghlwm wrthynt. Bydd hyn yn helpu swyddfeydd post i aros yn fasnachol hyfyw a chynaliadwy, ac yn dod â manteision ehangach i gymunedau lleol.

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau hefyd i wella’r mynediad at gynhyrchion a gwasanaethau ariannol ar gyfer pobl ariannol allgaeëdig, na allant ddefnyddio’r gwasanaethau ariannol prif ffrwd a gynigir gan fanciau’r stryd fawr. Mae pobl na allant ddefnyddio cynhyrchion ariannol prif ffrwd yn dal mewn perygl o suddo i drobwll o ddyled afreolus, a waethygir yn aml gan weithgareddau darparwyr cyllid personol costus, cwmnïau benthyciadau diwrnod cyflog neu fenthycwyr arian anghofrestredig.

Mae Undebau Credyd yn cynnig dewis diogel a fforddiadwy yn lle’r darparwyr costus hyn. Fel darparwyr moesegol o gyllid personol fforddiadwy, mae’r mudiadau cydweithredol a chydfuddiannol hyn yn cynnig dewis fforddiadwy i’r bobl yn ein cymunedau sydd fwyaf mewn perygl o gael eu llethu gan orddyledusrwydd.

Buddsoddwyd £750,000 o gyllid refeniw a £1m o gyllid cyfalaf yn 2009/2010 i wella ‘Mynediad at Wasanaethau Ariannol drwy Undebau Credyd’. Mae £4\.056m o gyllid wedi’i ddarparu ar y cyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru a Chronfa Datblygu Rhanbarthol Ewrop tan fis Medi 2013 i barhau â’r prosiect Mynediad at Gynhyrchion Ariannol drwy’r Undebau Credyd.

Ddiwedd Medi 2011, amcangyfrifwyd bod aelodaeth Undebau Credyd Cymru gan gynnwys cynilwyr iau yn 55,140\. Mae hyn yn cynrychioli cynnydd yn yr aelodaeth oedolion o fwy na 12 y cant yn y flwyddyn a ddaeth i ben ym Medi 2011 a chynnydd o fwy nag 11 y cant yn yr aelodaeth iau. Mae hyn wedi digwydd er gwaethaf tranc y Gronfa Ymddiriedolaeth Plant. Amcangyfrifir bod y benthyciadau a ddarparwyd gan Undebau Credyd Cymru yn yr un cyfnod yn werth mwy na £13m, cynnydd o 22 y cant pan gymherir y cyfanswm â gwerth y benthyciadau a hysbyswyd ym Medi 2010\.

Rhwng Ebrill 2009 a Medi 2010, darparodd Undebau Credyd wasanaethau ar gyfer mwy na 4,300 o aelodau newydd a oedd yn oedolion ariannol allgaeëdig, a gwasanaethau ar gyfer 482 o gynilwyr ifanc. Ers mis Hydref 2010, mae Undebau Credyd wedi helpu 4,900 arall o bobl i gael gafael ar gynhyrchion ariannol syml, tryloyw a fforddiadwy. Mae Undebau Credyd hefyd wedi recriwtio 1,400 arall o gynilwyr iau newydd ledled Cymru.

Er gwaethaf y llwyddiant hwn, mae yna ormod o bobl nad ydynt yn sylweddoli bod eu Hundeb Credyd lleol yn gallu cynnig gwybodaeth, cymorth a, lle y bo’n briodol, dewis fforddiadwy yn lle darparwyr cyllid personol eraill. Mewn arolwg a gynhaliwyd gan Beaufort Research Ltd ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru, dywedodd 52 y cant o’r ymatebwyr eu bod yn ymwybodol o Undebau Credyd. Roedd yr ymateb hwn yn fwy na’r 46 y cant a oedd yn ymwybodol o ddarparwyr benthyciadau a siopau credyd ar y Rhyngrwyd, ond yn llai na’r 60 y cant o ymatebwyr a oedd yn ymwybodol o wystlwyr a chwmnïau credyd cartref, a’r 61 y cant a oedd yn ymwybodol o gwmnïau newid sieciau’r stryd fawr.

O’r rhai a oedd yn ymwybodol o Undebau Credyd ond heb ymaelodi, dywedodd 36 y cant nad oedd angen y gwasanaeth arnynt, dywedodd 11 y cant nad oeddent yn deall pwrpas undeb credyd, a dywedodd 9 y cant na fyddent yn ymaelodi ag Undeb Credyd.

Trwy’r prosiect Mynediad at Wasanaethau Ariannol drwy Undebau Credyd, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cynnig cymorth busnes i undebau credyd gan The Social Investment Business. Yn ogystal â chynnwys cyngor ar gynllunio busnes, rheoli risg a darparu hyfforddiant yn effeithiol ar gyfer y tymor hir, mae’r cymorth hwn yn helpu i farchnata a hyrwyddo Undebau Credyd ledled Cymru gan ddefnyddio amrywiaeth o dechnegau.

Mae’r gweithgarwch hwn yn cynnwys ymgyrch deledu genedlaethol a lansiwyd yn yr wythnos a gychwynnodd ar 13 Chwefror. Gyda chymorth Llywodraeth Cymru, mae Undebau Credyd wedi cydweithio i gomisiynu hysbyseb deledu i’w darlledu dros bedair wythnos yn ystod 51 o doriadau hysbysebu rhaglenni’r dydd.  

Dros y deunaw mis nesaf, bydd y gweithgareddau eraill i hyrwyddo Undebau Credyd yn cynnwys e\-farchnata i ledaenu newyddion da am waith Undebau Credyd yng Nghymru, defnyddio cyfryngau cymdeithasol i ymgysylltu â phobl ifanc 16\-24 oed, er mwyn egluro manteision ymaelodi ag Undeb Credyd, yn ogystal â rhaglen o sioeau teithiol lleol mewn canolfannau lleol i godi ymwybyddiaeth ac i annog pobl i ymaelodi ag Undebau Credyd yn yr ardal. Fel y Gweinidog Llywodraeth Leol a Chymunedau, byddaf yn parhau i annog arweinwyr cymunedol, ffigyrau blaenllaw yn y gymdeithas a’r cyfryngau i helpu i hyrwyddo’r manteision a all ddeillio o ymaelodi ag Undeb Credyd lleol.  

Rwyf hefyd wedi cael cynghorau lleol i helpu i hyrwyddo aelodaeth o Undeb Credyd drwy ddulliau megis didyniadau o’r gyflogres i gyflogeion y sector cyhoeddus. Ers fy llythyr at arweinwyr cynghorau lleol fis Awst y llynedd, sy’n cael sylw pellach gan fy swyddogion ar hyn o bryd, mae’r ymateb wedi bod yn galonogol. Gyda chefnogaeth fy nghydweithwyr yn y cabinet, ein bwriad yw hyrwyddo undebau credyd ymhellach ac annog pobl ar draws cyrff sector cyhoeddus yn y sectorau iechyd ac addysg i ymaelodi.

Gyda’i gilydd, bydd cyflawni ein hymrwymiadau yn y Rhaglen Lywodraethu, adolygu’r gwasanaethau cynghori sydd ar gael i bobl Cymru, parhau i gynorthwyo Undebau Credyd a Swyddfeydd Post, ac annog cydweithredu agosach â darparwyr cymunedol eraill yn helpu i drechu tlodi ac allgáu ariannol ac yn cynnig rhywfaint o gymorth i bobl Cymru yn yr hinsawdd economaidd anodd hon.  







Translation:


 
The Welsh Government’s Programme for Government published in 2011 sets out the foundation for the Tackling Poverty Action Plan which will bring together the levers available to the Welsh Government and our social partners to help communities and individuals out of poverty.


I have already said that Communities First will be a community focussed tackling poverty programme, as is our Financial Inclusion Strategy “Taking Everyone into Account”. Both of these initiatives are key components in the Welsh Government’s efforts to tackle poverty.


The Financial Inclusion Strategy has given the Welsh Government the opportunity to provide a lead to its partners in tackling financial exclusion and over\-indebtedness in Wales, focussing on five specific themes:


* Access to mainstream financial services;
* Providing affordable credit and savings;
* Improving access to financial and debt advice;
* Increasing financial capability; and
* Income maximisation.


The Programme for Government’s Delivery Programme includes the commitment to “support Third Sector advice providers to assist people who have debt problems and help people manage their finances”.  Improving access to advisory services that are delivered consistently and universally across Wales is imperative.  This is of particular relevance in a climate of forthcoming changes to the welfare and benefit arrangements being introduced by the UK Government.


In addition to the changes to the welfare and benefits system, the advice sector is facing a time of unprecedented change, such as the ending of the Financial Inclusion Fund (FIF) the face\-to\-face debt advice fund; legal aid reform; pressures on local government funding to advice services and potential transfer of responsibilities for consumer matters to the Citizens Advice Bureaux.


Because of the magnitude of the challenges we now face, the Finance Minister and I have agreed to undertake an in\-depth review of advisory services in Wales. Key to this will be seeking input from experts in the field, users and funders of the services and other key stakeholders. A further statement about the scope and proposed timings for the findings of the review will be made in the spring.


In the meantime, I have recently announced a significant funding package to Citizens Advice Cymru: providing more than £100,000 to support the Advice line Cymru telephone service in 2011\-12 and consolidating existing Welsh Government benefit take\-up schemes (Better Advice, Better Health, Benefit take\-up for Children with Disabilities and Council Tax and Housing Benefit take\-up) to improve advice services available in Wales. The financial commitment to this service will be £2\.2 million annually for three years starting in April 2012\.


The Welsh Government also recognises that Post Offices provide a range of services which help to prevent financial exclusion, such as free access to cash and banking services in communities which may be isolated or have lost access to a high street bank through branch closure programmes.  I recently reopened the Post Office Diversification Fund, announcing a further £2 million to be made available over three years to local post offices to improve the network’s overall sustainability.  The aim of the Post Office Diversification Fund is to encourage post offices to diversify and improve the retail businesses attached to them.  This will help post offices remain commercially viable and sustainable, and benefit local communities more widely.


The Welsh Government is continuing also to improve access to financial products and services to financially excluded people, unable to access mainstream financial services offered by the high street banks. People unable to access mainstream financial products continue to be at risk of a downward spiral of unmanageable debt, often exacerbated because of the activities of high cost personal finance providers, pay day loan companies or unregistered moneylenders.


Credit Unions offer a safe and affordable alternative to these high cost providers. As ethical providers of affordable personal finance, these mutual co\-operatives offer people most a risk of over indebtedness in our communities an affordable alternative.


Funding of £750,000 revenue and £1m Capital investment was made available 2009/2010 to improve ‘Access to Financial Services through Credit Unions’. Funding of £4\.056m has been provided jointly by the Welsh Government and European Regional Development Fund until September 2013 to continue the Access to Financial Products through the Credit Unions project.


As at the end of September 2011, membership of Welsh Credit Unions including junior savers was estimated at 55,140\. This represents an increase in adult membership of more than 12 percent in the year ending September 2011 and more than an 11 percent increase in junior membership. This is despite the demise of the Child’s Trust Fund. The value of the loans provided by Welsh Credit Unions in the same period is estimated to be in excess of £13m, an increase of 22 percent when compared against the value of loans reported in September 2010\.


Between April 2009 and September 2010, Credit Unions provided services to more than 4300 new financially excluded adult members 482 young savers.  From October 2010, Credit Unions have helped a further 4900 people to access financial products that are simple, transparent and affordable.  Credit Unions have also recruited a further 1400 new junior savers across Wales.


Despite this success, too many people do not realise that their local Credit Union can offer information, support and where appropriate, and affordable alternative to other personal finance providers.  In a survey conducted by Beaufort Research Ltd on behalf of the Welsh Government, 52 per cent of respondents said that they were aware of Credit Unions.  This response was more than those who were aware of Internet based loan providers and credit shops at 46 per cent, but less than the percentage of respondents who were aware of pawnbrokers, home credit companies and high street cheque cashers at 60 per cent and 61 per cent respectively.


Of those who are aware of but not a member of Credit Unions, 36 per cent of respondents gave the reason as not needing it, whilst 11 per cent said that they did not know what a credit union was about whilst 9 per cent of respondents said that they would not join a Credit Union.


Through the Access to Financial Services through Credit Unions Project, the Welsh Government has offered business support to credit unions delivered by The Social Investment Business. Not only does this support include advice about effective long terms business planning, risk management and training provision, but also supports the marketing and promotion of Welsh Credit Unions across Wales using a variety of techniques.


This activity includes a national Television campaign that commenced during the week commencing 13 February.  With support from the Welsh Government, Credit Unions have worked together to commission this television advertisement to be broadcast over four weeks in 51 daytime advertising programme breaks.  


Over the next eighteen months, other activities to promote Credit Unions will include e\-marketing to promote good news stories about the work of Credit Unions in Wales, social media used to engage young people aged between 16 – 24 years, explaining the benefits that Credit Union membership can bring, as well as a programme of local road shows in local centres to raise awareness and encourage membership of local Credit Unions in the area.  As Minister for Local Government and Communities, I will continue to encourage community leaders, prominent figures in society and the media to help promote the virtues that membership of their local Credit Union can bring.  


I have also enlisted the support of local councils to help promote Credit Union membership using methods such as payroll deduction to public sector employees.  Following my letter to leaders of local councils in August last year, which is currently being followed up by my officials, the response has been encouraging.  With the support of my cabinet colleagues, it is our intention to further promote credit unions and encourage membership across public sector organisations in the health and education sectors.


Taken together, delivery of our commitments in the Programme for Government, reviewing the delivery of advice services to the people of Wales, continuing support for Credit Unions, Post Offices and encouraging closer collaborative working with other community providers, the actions being taken to tackle poverty and financial exclusion in Wales will offer some help to the people of Wales during the difficult economic climate we are experiencing.