Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
 


 


 


On 10 December 2014 I informed Members of the publication of Dr Mike Shooter’s independent review of the role and functions of the Children’s Commissioner for Wales.  The intention of the review was to consider how Wales can ensure it has a Children's Commissioner whose role is as clear and effective as possible.  The recommendations seek to further strengthen the Commissioner's valued position and I thank Dr Shooter for his insight and diligence.


I am keen to ensure the recommendations are considered with great care.  


There are 15 recommendations identified as operational matters for the Children’s Commissioner.  I have met Professor Sally Holland to discuss these.  I am pleased she has responded in an open and positive way to the recommendations and is already taking action on a number of them, with a commitment to consider the remaining recommendations further.  


There are 2 recommendations concerning scrutiny which are wholly for the National Assembly for Wales and I have written to the Presiding Officer, drawing them to her attention.


Of the recommendations for Government, we are clear after careful reflection, the responsibility for the appointment and funding of the Commissioner should continue to rest with the Welsh Government, whilst the role of scrutiny and accountability rests with the Assembly.  Separating these two sets of functions safeguards the effective independence of the Commissioner.  The Commissioner is appointed by the First Minister, following fair and open competition which includes a Panel with cross\-party representation and young people.  The Commissioner, like others in public life, is accountable to the public via the National Assembly’s subject and Public Accounts Committees.  


  

The remaining recommendations need further consideration and a number of these relate to potential legislation. Before committing to new legislation, there is a need to look at whether it is desirable, necessary and practicable.   We are conscious of the different roles and powers of the Children’s Commissioner, Older People’s Commissioner, Welsh Language Commissioner and the Future Generations Commissioner, which are specific to their remits, and these should be maintained. We are of the view the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales should not be included as part of our considerations. We would require evidence of the need for a single piece of legislation defining all Commissioners’ roles and purposes, or of the need to amend existing legislation in order to bring greater consistency.  Officials have begun work to scope and consider the need for, and implications of, new legislation.    However, any new legislation, if considered necessary, would not be possible until the next Assembly term.


Whilst accepting Commissioners’ needs to be adequately resourced to fulfil their role, all bodies in receipt of public funding must be able to evidence value for money.  This is all the more pressing given the current financial climate and the need for greater efficiency. We will offer the Commissioners support, advice and encouragement in seeking to maximise joint working, and identify economies in support services and office costs.


There are some recommendations which have already been addressed, such as the involvement of children and young people and Members from all parties in the appointment process for the Children’s Commissioner, the requirement to give up existing posts where there is a perceived conflict of interest and a training strategy to raise awareness of the UNCRC and the Children’s Commissioner amongst professionals who work with children and young people.


The review and its recommendations have allowed for open and honest dialogue with the Children’s Commissioner. I will continue to work with the Commissioner to ensure she is informed and involved in the Government’s work in responding to the recommendations.  I will update Members further in due course.


 


 


 


 


 


 







Translation:


 
Ar 10 Rhagfyr 2014 rhoddais wybod i’r Aelodau bod Dr Mike Shooter yn cyhoeddi adolygiad annibynnol o swydd a swyddogaethau Comisiynydd Plant Cymru.  Bwriad yr adolygiad oedd ystyried sut y gallai Cymru sicrhau bod ganddi Gomisiynydd Plant â swyddogaeth mor glir ac effeithiol â phosib.  Mae’r argymhellion yn ceisio cryfhau ymhellach swydd werthfawr y Comisiynydd, ac rwy’n diolch i Dr Shooter am ei ddirniadaeth a’i ddiwydrwydd.    
Rwy’n awdyddus i sicrhau bod yr argymhellion yn cael eu hystyried yn ofalus iawn.   

Mae 15 o argymhellion wedi’u nodi fel materion gweithredol ar gyfer y Comisynydd Plant.  Rwyf wedi cyfarfod yr Athro Sally Holland i drafod y materion hyn.  Rwy’n falch ei bod wedi ymateb mewn dull agored a phositif i’r argymhellion, a’i bod eisoes yn gweithredu ar nifer ohonynt, gydag ymrwymiad i ystyried ymhellach yr argymhellion sy’n weddill.  

Mae 2 argymhelliad yn gysylltiedig â chraffu ar gyfer Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru yn gyfan\-gwbl, ac rwyf wedi ysgrifennu at y Llywydd i dynnu ei sylw atynt.  

Rydym yn glir ynghylch yr argymhellion ar gyfer y Llywodraeth, wedi eu hystyried yn ofalus, y dylai’r cyfrifoldeb am benodi a chyllido’r Comisiynydd aros gyda Llywodraeth Cymru, tra bo’r Cynulliad yn gyfrifol am graffu ac atebolrwydd.  Byddai rhannu’r ddau fath o swyddogaeth yn sicrhau bod y Comisiynydd yn parhau i fod yn annibynnol.  Caiff y Comisiynydd ei benodi gan y Prif Weinidog, yn dilyn cystadleuaeth deg ac agored, sy’n cynnwys Panel gyda chynrychiolaeth trawsbleidiol a phobl ifanc.  Mae’r Comisiynydd, fel eraill mewn bywyd cyhoeddus, yn atebol i’r cyhoedd drwy Bwyllgorau pwnc a Chyfrifon Cyhoeddus y Cynulliad.

Mae angen edrych ymhellach ar yr argymhellion sy’n weddill, ac mae nifer o’r rhain yn gysylltiedig â deddfwriaeth bosib.  Cyn ymrwymo i ddeddfwriaeth newydd, mae angen edrych a yw’n ddymunol, yn angenrheidiol ac yn ymarferol.  Rydym yn ymwybodol o swyddogaethau a phwerau gwahanol y Comisiynydd Plant, y Comisiynydd Pobl Hŷn, Comisiynydd y Gymraeg a Chomisiynydd Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol, sy’n benodol i’w cylch gwaith, a dylid cadw at hyn.  Rydym o’r farn na ddylid cynnwys yr Ombwdsman Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus fel rhan o’n hystyriaethau ni.  Byddem angen tystiolaeth o’r angen am un darn o ddeddfwriaeth i ddiffinio holl swyddogaethau a dibenion y Comisiynydd, neu o’r angen i ddiwygio deddfwriaeth bresennol er mwyn sicrhau mwy o gysondeb.  Mae swyddogion wedi dechrau gweithio i drefnu cwmpas unrhyw ddeddfwriaeth newydd, i ystyried yr angen amdano, a’i oblygiadau. Fodd bynnag, ni fyddai unrhyw ddeddfwriaeth newydd, pe byddai’n cael ei ystyried yn angenrheidiol, yn bosibl tan dymor nesaf y Cynulliad.  

Er yn derbyn bod angen i’r Comisiynydd gael digon o adnoddau i gyflawni ei swyddogaethau, mae’n rhaid i bob corff sy’n derbyn cyllid gyhoeddus gyflwyno tystiolaeth o werth am arian.  Mae hyn yn fwyfwy pwysig o ystyried yr hinsawdd ariannol presennol a’r angen i fod yn fwy effeithlon.  Byddwn yn cynnig cymorth, cyngor ac anogaeth i’r Comisiynydd i fanteisio i’r eithaf ar gyfleoedd i gydweithio, ac i nodi arbedion o ran gwasanaethau cymorth a chostau swyddfeydd.   

Rydym eisoes wedi mynd i’r afael â rhai argymhellion, megis cynnwys plant a phobl ifanc ac Aelodau o bob plaid yn y broses o benodi’r Comisiynydd Plant; yr angen i roi’r gorau i swyddi presennol pan fydd gwrthdaro buddiannau posibl; a strategaeth hyfforddi i godi ymwybyddiaeth o’r CCUHP a’r Comisiynydd Plant ymysg gweithwyr proffesiynol sy’n gweithio gyda plant a phobl ifanc.   

Mae’r adolygiad a’i argymhellion wedi caniatáu trafodaethau agored a gonest gyda’r Comisiynydd Plant.  Byddaf yn parhau i weithio gyda’r Comisiynydd i sicrhau ei bod yn ymwybodol o waith y Llywodraeth o ymateb i’r argymhellion, ac i fod yn rhan ohono.  Byddaf yn rhoi’r newyddion diweddaraf i’r Aelodau maes o law.