Translate the text from Welsh to English.



 
Mi wnes i ddatganiad ar 13 Mehefin 2022 i gadarnhau’r bwriad i osod cap o 7\.3% ar y gyfradd log a godir ar rai o fenthyciadau myfyrwyr Cymru o fis Medi 2022, a hynny am gyfnod o 12 mis.  Yn sgil adolygiad pellach, gallaf ddweud y bydd y gyfradd yn cael ei chapio ar gyfradd is o 6\.3% am dri mis o 1 Medi 2022\.  Mae’r cap hwn hefyd wedi’i gyhoeddi gan Lywodraeth y DU ar gyfer myfyrwyr Lloegr. Bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i ddiogelu myfyrwyr rhag cyfraddau llog uchel ar eu benthyciadau, cyfraddau sy’n deillio o lefelau chwyddiant uchel.


Yn ystod y flwyddyn hyd fis Mawrth 2022, cyrhaeddodd y gyfradd chwyddiant sy’n pennu’r llog a godir ar rai o fenthyciadau myfyrwyr 9%. O fis Medi 2022, byddai’r cyfraddau llog yn codi i 12% am gyfnod cyn iddynt gael eu capio. Rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru sicrhau nad yw’r cyfraddau yn codi’n uwch na chyfradd y farchnad, ac mae wedi gweithredu deirgwaith dros y 10 mis diwethaf i osod cap ar gyfradd benthyciadau a diogelu myfyrwyr.


Rhwng 1 Medi 2022 a 31 Awst 2023, gosodir cap o 6\.3% ar gyfradd y benthyciadau a drefnwyd gan israddedigion ers 2012, a chan fyfyrwyr ôl\-radd. Mae’n bosibl y gosodir capiau pellach ar gyfraddau os bydd cyfradd y farchnad yn parhau i fod yn is na chyfraddau llog benthyciadau myfyrwyr.


Nid yw newidiadau i gyfraddau llog yn newid ad\-daliadau misol benthyciadau myfyrwyr, gan mai cyfran sefydlog o incwm y myfyriwr yw’r swm a delir. Mae ad\-daliadau benthyciadau yn ddibynnol ar lefel yr incwm. Dim ond os yw myfyrwyr yn ennill dros drothwy arbennig y maent yn gorfod ad\-dalu eu benthyciad, a chaiff unrhyw ddyled sy’n dal heb ei thalu ar ôl tri deg mlynedd ei chlirio.


Ni ddylai costau byw fod yn rhwystr i astudio mewn prifysgol, a dyna pam mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn darparu’r grantiau costau byw mwyaf hael yn y DU. Ar gyfartaledd, mae llai gan fyfyrwyr Cymru i’w ad\-dalu na’u cyfoedion yn Lloegr. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru hefyd yn talu hyd at £1,500 o ddyled pob unigolyn sy’n mynd ati i ddechrau ei had\-dalu, cynllun sy’n unigryw o fewn y DU.


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.







Translation:


 
I made a statement on 13 June 2022 to confirm the intention to cap the interest rate charged to Welsh students on certain loans from September 2022 at 7\.3% for a period of 12 months. Following further review, I can state that the rate will be capped at a lower rate of 6\.3% for three months from 1 September 2022\. This cap has also been announced by the UK Government for English students. The Welsh Government will continue to protect students from high interest rates on their loans, rates which are a result of high levels of inflation.


The rate of inflation which determines the interest charged on certain loans reached 9% in the year to March 2022\. Interest rates would rise to up to 12% from September 2022 for a period of time before rates are capped. The Welsh Government must ensure that rates do not exceed the prevailing market rate and has taken action three times in the last year to cap the rate on loans and protect students.


The rate on loans taken out by undergraduate students since 2012, and by postgraduate students, will be capped at 6\.3% between 1 September 2022 and 30 November 2022\. Further rate caps may be applied if the prevailing market rate continues to be below student loan interest rates after that date.


Changes to interest rates do not change monthly student loan repayments, which are charged as a fixed proportion of income. Loan repayments are income contingent. Students repay their loan only if they earn above a threshold, and remaining debts are written off after thirty years.


Living costs should never be a barrier to studying at university, which is why the Welsh Government provides the most generous living costs grants in the UK. Welsh students have less to repay on average than their English peers. The Welsh Government also provides a debt write\-off of up to £1,500 for each borrower entering repayment, a scheme unique in the UK.


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.