English: Llywydd, this is a decision being made at the point of maximum uncertainty about our financial future. Unprecedented austerity in the public finances is combined with a complete lack of clarity over our capital budgets for the coming years, and is exacerbated by the uncertainty surrounding Brexit, while we know that the UK Government's lack of progress in bringing forward a comprehensive spending review could see the Welsh Government's budget even lower in the future than it is today. This financial position has significant and specific implications for the exercise of my powers to make the necessary compulsory purchase orders for the project to proceed. In this regard, and before deciding to make any CPOs, I am required to be satisfied that there is a compelling need for such orders and that they must be in the public interest, and that that, together, must justify interference with the human rights of those with an interest in the land required for the project. I must be satisfied that the necessary resources to carry out the project would be available within a reasonable timescale and that the project is unlikely to be blocked by any other impediment to its implementation. Llywydd, I have concluded that the financial position means that I cannot be satisfied that I can lawfully exercise my compulsory purchase order powers in relation to the project, because I am not satisfied that the project can be implemented within the foreseeable future, given the prolonged period of financial uncertainty we face. Now, Llywydd, in light of this conclusion, it is actually unnecessary for me to go on to consider whether the advantages of the project outweigh its disadvantages and whether I agree with the inspector's overall conclusions as to where the balance between advantages and disadvantages lies. Nevertheless, I have proceeded, as the inspector did, by addressing, as he says in paragraph 8.481 of his report, the 'strong and competing interests' at play and the question of where the balance between those competing interests should lie. I have therefore considered the advantages and disadvantages identified by the inspector, and I have concluded that, even without the Cabinet's position on funding, and even if, on those grounds, it was likely that the project would be implemented, I would, in any event, have decided not to make the schemes and orders. I recognise the inspector's conclusions as to the advantages and disadvantages of the project. However, I attach greater weight than the inspector to the adverse impacts that the project would have on the environment and ecology. In particular, I attach very significant weight to the fact that the project would have a substantial adverse impact on the Gwent levels sites of special scientific interest and their reen network and wildlife, and on other species, and a permanent adverse impact on the historic landscape of the Gwent levels. As a result, in my judgment, the project's adverse impacts on the environment, taken together with other disadvantages, outweigh its advantages. In weighing up the inspector's 'strong competing interests', my judgment as to where the balance between those competing interests lies ultimately differs from his. For these additional reasons, separate to those on the grounds of funding, I do not consider that there is a compelling case in the public interest to expropriate the land that is subject to the compulsory purchase orders, and I do not consider that it would be appropriate or expedient to make other schemes and orders. Llywydd, just as my decision has had to take into account the latest and changed financial context facing the Welsh Government, so too future solutions to the congestion issues on the M4 around Newport must reflect the most recent environmental challenges we face as a nation. Two significant recent reports have highlighted different aspects of these challenges. The first is the UK Committee on Climate Change 'Net Zero' report on climate change, recommending a new 95 per cent target for emissions reduction in Wales by 2050. In response, the Welsh Government, recognising the scale and urgency of the threat, declared a climate emergency. Secondly, last month, the United Nations published its global assessment on biodiversity. That report set out the scale of the impact that human activity and development is having on species, and the threat that further development is likely to pose to ecosystems across the world. Llywydd, the findings of that report apply equally to us here in Wales. Now, Llywydd, I acknowledge, of course, that there are strong views on both sides of the debate in relation to this project. There is a consensus, however, and a consensus that I share, that the issues of capacity, resilience and environment at the M4 corridor around Newport do have to be addressed and that they will need a mixture of both local and regional solutions. In light of the funding constraints and the environmental impacts that have led to my decision on the orders, it is important that those issues are now addressed collaboratively, and that voices on all sides have the chance to shape the way forward together. It's in this context that I announce today a new commission that will be appointed - a commission of transport experts charged with reviewing the evidence and making recommendations to the Welsh Government on alternative solutions to the problems faced at the M4 corridor around Newport. Those suggestions can include innovative technologies and other measures to address those current problems. The commission will be guided by our overarching ambition to develop a high-quality, multimodal, integrated and low-carbon transport system, and the context of the major challenges of climate change and biodiversity that I have set out already. The commission will be drawn from a spectrum of expertise, and it will be supported in its work by a dedicated team within the Welsh Government. Ken Skates, the Minister for Economy and Transport, will make further announcements on the commission, including timescales - making those announcements to the Assembly tomorrow. In advance of the commission's work, the Minister will implement a series of fast-tracked, targeted interventions to alleviate congestion on the M4, for example actions to expedite recovery of vehicles, enhanced traffic officer patrols, live journey information to inform better transport choices, and a behavioural campaign to reduce accidents and incidents and to make maximum use of existing lane capacity. Llywydd, transport is an area, as we heard in the question posed to me by the former First Minister, where this Welsh Government has bold and ambitious plans for the future, from the £5 billion plan we have developed through Transport for Wales for the new rail franchise and metro, to major legislation to improve bus services, to the biggest investment in active travel ever seen across Wales. Resolving the congestion issues around the M4 is an important part of those plans, but there are, as we see from the inspector's report, no easy or uncontested answers. We are committed to taking an inclusive and collaborative approach to finding innovative, affordable and sustainable solutions in the shortest possible timescales, and we look forward to working with others to achieve that ambition.
Welsh: Llywydd, penderfyniad yw hwn a wneir pan mae'r ansicrwydd mwyaf ynglŷn â'n dyfodol ariannol. Mae cyni na welwyd ei debyg o'r blaen ym maes cyllid cyhoeddus yn cyfuno â diffyg eglurder llwyr o ran ein cyllidebau cyfalaf am y blynyddoedd i ddod, a gwaethygir hynny gan yr ansicrwydd ynghylch Brexit, er ein bod ni'n gwybod y gallai diffyg cynnydd Llywodraeth y DU o ran cyflwyno adolygiad cynhwysfawr o wariant weld cyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru yn llai hyd yn oed yn y dyfodol nag y mae heddiw. Mae goblygiadau sylweddol a phenodol i'r sefyllfa ariannol hon o ran arfer fy mhwerau i wneud y gorchmynion prynu gorfodol sy'n angenrheidiol i'r prosiect fynd rhagddo. Yn hyn o beth, a chyn penderfynu cyflawni unrhyw orchmynion prynu gorfodol, mae'n ofynnol imi fod yn sicr bod angen pendant am orchmynion o'r fath a bod yn rhaid iddyn nhw fod er budd y cyhoedd, a bod yn rhaid iddyn nhw, gyda'i gilydd, gyfiawnhau ymyrryd â hawliau dynol y rhai sydd â buddiant yn y tir sydd ei angen ar gyfer y prosiect. Mae'n rhaid imi gael fy modloni y byddai'r adnoddau angenrheidiol i gyflawni'r prosiect ar gael o fewn amserlen resymol ac nad yw'r prosiect yn debygol o gael ei atal gan unrhyw rwystr arall i'w weithrediad. Llywydd, deuthum i'r casgliad bod y sefyllfa ariannol yn golygu na allaf fod yn sicr y caf arfer fy mhwerau i roi gorchmynion prynu gorfodol o ran y prosiect, gan nad wyf wedi fy modloni y gellir gweithredu'r prosiect mewn dyfodol y gellir ei ragweld, o ystyried y cyfnod hir o ansicrwydd ariannol sy'n ein hwynebu. Nawr, Llywydd, yng ngoleuni'r casgliad hwn, nid oes angen imi fynd ymlaen i ystyried a yw manteision y prosiect yn goresgyn ei anfanteision ac a wyf i'n cytuno â chasgliadau cyffredinol yr arolygydd o ran lleoliad y man canol rhwng y manteision a'r anfanteision. Serch hynny, rwyf wedi mynd ati, fel y dywedodd yr arolygydd, drwy roi sylw, fel y gwnaiff ef ym mharagraff 8.481 ei adroddiad, i'r buddiannau cryf a chystadleuol sydd ar waith yma, a'r cwestiwn o ble y dylai'r cydbwysedd rhwng y buddiannau cystadleuol hynny sefyll. Felly, rwyf wedi ystyried y manteision a'r anfanteision a nodwyd gan yr arolygydd, a deuthum i'r casgliad, hyd yn oed heb ystyried safbwynt y Cabinet ynglŷn ag ariannu, a hyd yn oed pe byddai'n debygol, ar y sail honno, y câi'r prosiect ei weithredu arno, y byddwn i, beth bynnag am hynny, wedi penderfynu peidio â chyflawni'r cynlluniau na'r gorchmynion. Rwy'n cydnabod casgliadau'r arolygydd o ran manteision ac anfanteision y prosiect. Fodd bynnag, rwyf yn rhoi mwy o bwys na'r arolygydd ar yr effeithiau andwyol y byddai'r prosiect yn eu cael ar yr amgylchedd ac ecoleg. Yn benodol, rwy'n rhoi pwys mawr iawn ar y ffaith y byddai'r prosiect yn cael effaith andwyol sylweddol ar safleoedd o ddiddordeb gwyddonol arbennig ar wastadeddau Gwent a'u rhwydwaith a'u bywyd gwyllt, ac ar rywogaethau eraill, ac effaith andwyol barhaol ar dirwedd hanesyddol wastadeddau Gwent. O ganlyniad, yn fy marn i, mae effeithiau anffafriol y prosiect ar yr amgylchedd, o'u cymryd ynghyd â'r anfanteision eraill, yn gorlethu ei fanteision. Wrth bwyso a mesur y 'buddiannau cryf a chystadleuol', geiriau'r arolygydd, mae fy nyfarniad ynghylch lle mae'r cydbwysedd rhwng y buddiannau cystadleuol hynny'n gorwedd yn y pen draw yn wahanol i'w farn ef. Am y rhesymau ychwanegol hyn, ar wahân i'r rhesymau ar sail cyllid, nid wyf o'r farn y ceir achos cryf o ran budd y cyhoedd o blaid difeddiannu'r tir sy'n ddarostyngedig i'r gorchmynion prynu gorfodol, ac nid wyf o'r farn y byddai'n briodol nac yn fanteisiol cyflawni cynlluniau a gorchmynion eraill. Llywydd, yn union fel y bu'n rhaid i'm penderfyniad ystyried y cyd-destun ariannol diweddaraf a'r newid sy'n wynebu Llywodraeth Cymru, mae'n rhaid i ddatrysiadau i broblemau tagfeydd ar yr M4 o amgylch Casnewydd yn y dyfodol adlewyrchu'r sialensiau amgylcheddol diweddaraf sy'n ein hwynebu fel cenedl. Mae dau adroddiad sylweddol diweddar wedi tynnu sylw at wahanol agweddau ar yr heriau hyn. Y cyntaf yw adroddiad Pwyllgor y DU ar Newid yn yr Hinsawdd, 'Net Zero', sy'n argymell nod newydd o 95 y cant ar gyfer lleihau allyriadau yng Nghymru erbyn 2050. Mewn ymateb, mae Llywodraeth Cymru, gan gydnabod maint a brys y bygythiad, wedi datgan argyfwng ar yr hinsawdd. Yn ail, fis diwethaf, cyhoeddodd y Cenhedloedd Unedig ei asesiad byd-eang ar fioamrywiaeth. Roedd yr adroddiad hwnnw'n nodi maint yr effaith y mae gweithgarwch a datblygiad dynol yn ei chael ar rywogaethau, a'r bygythiad y mae datblygiad pellach yn debygol o'i achosi i ecosystemau ledled y byd. Llywydd, mae canfyddiadau'r adroddiad hwnnw'r un mor berthnasol i ni yma yng Nghymru. Nawr, Llywydd, rwy'n cydnabod, wrth gwrs, fod barn gref ar ddwy ochr y ddadl ynglŷn â'r prosiect hwn. Ond mae yna gonsensws, a chonsensws yr wyf i'n ei rannu, fod yn rhaid mynd i'r afael â phroblemau o ran capasiti, cydnerthedd a'r amgylchedd ar goridor yr M4 o amgylch Casnewydd, ac y bydd angen cymysgedd o atebion lleol a rhanbarthol i fynd i'r afael â nhw. Yng ngoleuni'r cyfyngiadau ar gyllid a'r effeithiau amgylcheddol sydd wedi arwain at fy mhenderfyniad ar y gorchmynion, mae'n bwysig bod y materion hynny'n cael sylw ar y cyd ar hyn o bryd, a bod gan leisiau ar y naill ochr a'r llall y cyfle i weithio ar y ffordd ymlaen gyda'i gilydd. Yn y cyd-destun hwn yr wyf i'n cyhoeddi comisiwn newydd heddiw a gaiff ei benodi - comisiwn o arbenigwyr trafnidiaeth sy'n gyfrifol am adolygu'r dystiolaeth a gwneud argymhellion i Lywodraeth Cymru ynghylch atebion amgen i'r problemau a wynebir ar goridor yr M4 o amgylch Casnewydd. Fe all yr awgrymiadau hynny gynnwys technolegau arloesol a mesurau eraill i fynd i'r afael â'r problemau cyfredol hynny. Bydd y comisiwn yn cael ei dywys gan ein huchelgais cyffredinol ni i ddatblygu system drafnidiaeth o ansawdd uchel, sy'n aml-foddol, yn integredig ac yn garbon isel, ac yng nghyd-destun heriau mawr newid hinsawdd a bioamrywiaeth yr wyf i wedi eu nodi eisoes. Bydd y comisiwn yn cynnwys amrywiaeth o arbenigedd, a chaiff ei gefnogi yn ei waith gan dîm penodedig o fewn Llywodraeth Cymru. Bydd Ken Skates, Gweinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth, yn gwneud cyhoeddiadau pellach am y comisiwn, gan gynnwys amserlenni - gan wneud y cyhoeddiadau hynny yfory i'r Cynulliad. Cyn gwaith y comisiwn, bydd y Gweinidog yn gweithredu cyfres o ymyriadau wedi eu hanelu ar fyrder i liniaru tagfeydd ar yr M4, er enghraifft camau i hwyluso'r broses o symud cerbydau sy'n peri rhwystrau, patrolau gwell o swyddogion traffig, gwybodaeth fyw am deithiau i helpu gyrwyr i wneud dewisiadau teithio gwell, ac ymgyrch i newid ymddygiad gyrwyr a lleihau damweiniau a digwyddiadau a gwneud y defnydd gorau o'r lle sydd ar y lonydd ar hyn o bryd. Llywydd, mae trafnidiaeth yn faes, fel y clywsom yn y cwestiwn a ofynnwyd imi gan y cyn Brif Weinidog, lle mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru gynlluniau beiddgar ac uchelgeisiol i'r dyfodol, o'r cynllun £5 biliwn a ddatblygwyd trwy Trafnidiaeth i Gymru i'r fasnachfraint reilffyrdd newydd a'r metro, i ddeddfwriaeth o bwys i wella gwasanaethau bysiau, i'r buddsoddiad mwyaf a welwyd erioed mewn teithio llesol ledled Cymru. Mae datrys y problemau tagfeydd o amgylch yr M4 yn rhan bwysig o'r cynlluniau hynny. Ond fel y gwelwn o adroddiad yr arolygydd, nid oes atebion hawdd heb unrhyw wrthwynebiad. Rydym wedi ymrwymo i fabwysiadu dull cynhwysol a chydweithredol o ddod o hyd i atebion arloesol, fforddiadwy a chynaliadwy o fewn yr amserlenni byrraf posibl, ac edrychwn ymlaen at weithio gydag eraill i wireddu'r uchelgais hwnnw.