English: I mentioned access to food banks a moment ago, and I was speaking to a trustee of the Vale of Clwyd food bank only last week, and he told me that around a third of the people who receive food packages from them are children. Over 500 children received food parcels from them last year alone. All of this means, of course, that people are having to make impossible choices on a daily basis, which they shouldn't have to make. We've heard it before, haven't we? They have to choose between putting food on the table, clothing their children, or heating their home. I was pointed recently in the direction of an article that appeared in the British Medical Journal that warned that the next public health crisis in the UK would be child malnutrition - child malnutrition in a twenty-first century western economy. Now, this, in turn, of course, impacts on educational attainment, with teachers doing their best to work with children who are hungry, who are tired, and who are suffering some of the other physical impacts of poverty. One teacher in a primary school near to where I live was telling me recently how she had to deal with the social services in the last couple of years more than she had ever done before - to unprecedented levels, compared to her experience of a long career in teaching. So, let's be clear: child poverty is a rights violation, and Ministers of this Government have a due-regard duty to the UNCRC through the Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure 2011. Now, the question we're faced, asking ourselves, is this: is child poverty really now becoming the norm for many families, schools and communities across Wales, and what's being done about it? Now, I touched, at the start of this contribution, on some of the initiatives from previous Welsh Governments from over a decade ago now to try to tackle child poverty. So, where are we today? The Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 continues to provide the legislative framework for tackling child poverty in Wales. It places a duty on Welsh Ministers and named public bodies to set objectives for tackling child poverty. The previous Welsh Government published their revised child poverty strategy in December 2015, and after evaluating the strategy and assessment, a progress report was published in December 2016. However, it's not clear how this strategy is being utilised, nor how, today, it's shaping this current Government's thinking. 'Taking Wales Forward', the Government's foundational strategy is seen as the new vehicle for taking actions; however, it doesn't have an explicit reference to poverty, aside from a brief mention of fuel poverty. Indeed, the Government's flagship 'Prosperity for All' national strategy - in that, there's only one reference to poverty, which can be found within the text of the early years cross-cutting priority, but of course there's no child poverty action plan to deliver the strategy. The Government did have a broader tackling poverty action plan, which had within it measurable milestones, targets and key performance indicators between 2013 and 2016. However, this plan came to an end with the end of the last Government, and we've seen no replacement action plan to deliver this agenda. Of course, what we have seen, however, is the scrapping of the anti-poverty Communities First programme, we saw the initial scrapping of the school uniform grant, which was subsequently reversed due to mass public outcry, we know that Flying Start provides a service, but it's very much a postcode lottery, where we recently reported from the Children, Young People and Education Committee that most children who need those services don't actually live within those areas that can access it, and, of course, we're now seeing the Government bringing forward a childcare offer that proposes to give couples earning up to £200,000 a year free childcare whilst excluding the poorest children from workless families from receiving that same support. A poverty advisory group that was convened under the last Government and had representation from all sectors and key groups has also been scrapped. The sad truth is that Wales is now without a headline target or a similar pledge to eradicate child poverty by a certain date in the future, and there doesn't seem to be an appetite, from what I see from this Government, to introduce such a target, either. But we must have ambition, and we must have a target to aim for. How else can we measure whether or not Government policies are successful in any meaningful way? The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child called for concrete targets within a time frame back in July 2016. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation called for an aim that fewer than one in 10 people are in poverty at any one time by 2030. Indeed, a 2030 target would be in line with Wales's sustainable development goals on ending poverty and inequality, providing a solid relationship with the intentions of the well-being of future generations Act. The End Child Poverty Network Cymru has also repeatedly called for the Welsh Government to renew its previous ambition and set new headline targets, something that we in Plaid Cymru very much support. The Government also lacks an annual reporting mechanism that would bring together all of the activities in one place and would allow a better understanding of how all the different programmes - such as Flying Start, Families First, the different funding streams and policies - are together contributing towards an overarching target. Such a single coherent plan could be a compendium of existing actions with clear and complementary targets and milestones and a strong narrative around it as well to reinvigorate the whole debate around child poverty. That will help us as well move from problems to solutions and send an unequivocal message to all delivery partners, including public bodies and the public services boards, of the Government's clear intention and expectations, putting an explicit focus on tackling child poverty. Contrast our situation in Wales with Scotland, where the Scottish Government has set itself new targets for 2030, such as having less than 10 per cent living in relative poverty, less than 5 per cent living in absolute poverty, less than 5 per cent living in persistent poverty - and there are others too. They've also published a child poverty delivery plan, which clearly sets out the actions to be taken to progress towards the ambitious child poverty targets set for 2030. It pains me to say that our Government's response here in Wales has been weak in comparison. Key recommendations put forward by the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee that a clear tackling poverty strategy is published and that the Welsh Government develops a dashboard of poverty indicators have both been rejected. I'd urge the Government to reconsider their refusal and to look at these proposals again. Plaid Cymru has been clear in terms of our policies: we want to see universal childcare for all parents rather than the limited proposals that are on offer from the Welsh Government. Why can't we reorientate adult skills programmes to reward providers on outcomes such as income rather than qualifications achieved? And of course we want to see adopting a no-evictions policy due to benefit cuts for all families with children. I realise that time is short so I'll make one important point, and I made a similar point in an earlier debate. There are strengths to having a cross-Government approach very often to some of these broader issues, but there can be risks as well. I'm not convinced in this context that it's actually working. It says something that I really had no idea which Cabinet Secretary or Minister was going to be responding to this debate this afternoon. I'm not sure what that tells us about the clarity around who actually leads on this within Government. There may be plenty of back-seat drivers, but who's sitting in the driving seat here, leading on this agenda, leading the charge from the front? I am running out of time, so I'll conclude my remarks by saying that child poverty in Wales is getting worse and the Government's response really needs to reflect that fact, because it is a fact. We need to be intensifying our actions, redoubling our efforts, being more ambitious and more determined than ever to rid Wales of this scourge. Like Romelu Lukaku, we need to play the game of our lives to beat child poverty. We need the same kind of comeback in this context as the Belgian team experienced the other night against Japan. I hope, in his response, that the Cabinet Secretary will reflect that very same sentiment, that same ambition, that same determination, but backed up with action.
Welsh: Soniais am fynediad at fanciau bwyd eiliad yn ôl, ac roeddwn yn siarad ag un o ymddiriedolwyr y banc bwyd yn Nyffryn Clwyd yr wythnos diwethaf, a dywedodd wrthyf fod tua thraean y bobl sy'n cael pecynnau bwyd ganddynt yn blant. Cafodd dros 500 o blant barseli bwyd ganddynt yn y flwyddyn ddiwethaf yn unig. Mae hyn oll yn golygu, wrth gwrs, fod pobl yn gorfod gwneud dewisiadau amhosibl ar sail ddyddiol, ac ni ddylent orfod gwneud hynny. Rydym wedi'i glywed o'r blaen, onid ydym? Mae'n rhaid iddynt ddewis rhwng rhoi bwyd ar y bwrdd, dilladu eu plant, neu wresogi eu cartref. Tynnwyd fy sylw yn ddiweddar at erthygl a ymddangosodd yn y British Medical Journal yn rhybuddio mai'r argyfwng iechyd cyhoeddus nesaf yn y DU fydd diffyg maethiad ymhlith plant - diffyg maethiad ymhlith plant mewn economi orllewinol yn yr unfed ganrif ar hugain. Nawr, mae hyn yn ei dro, wrth gwrs, yn effeithio ar gyrhaeddiad addysgol, gydag athrawon yn gwneud eu gorau i weithio gyda phlant sy'n llwglyd, wedi blino, ac yn dioddef yn sgil rhai o effeithiau corfforol eraill tlodi. Roedd un athro mewn ysgol gynradd yn agos at ble rwy'n byw yn dweud wrthyf yn ddiweddar sut y bu'n rhaid iddi ymdrin mwy â'r gwasanaethau cymdeithasol yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf nag y bu'n rhaid iddi erioed o'r blaen - ar lefelau nas gwelwyd o'r blaen, o gymharu â'i phrofiad dros yrfa hir yn addysgu. Felly, gadewch inni fod yn glir: mae tlodi plant yn tramgwyddo yn erbyn hawliau, ac mae gan Weinidogion y Llywodraeth hon ddyletswydd sylw dyledus i'r CCUHP drwy Fesur Hawliau Plant a Phobl Ifanc (Cymru) 2011. Nawr, y cwestiwn sy'n ein hwynebu, a'r un rydym yn ei ofyn i'n hunain yw hwn: a yw tlodi plant o ddifrif yn dod yn norm i lawer o deuluoedd, ysgolion a chymunedau ledled Cymru bellach, a beth sy'n cael ei wneud am y peth? Nawr, crybwyllais ar ddechrau'r cyfraniad hwn rai o'r mentrau gan Lywodraethau Cymru blaenorol dros ddegawd yn ôl bellach i geisio trechu tlodi plant. Felly, ble rydym ni heddiw? Mae Mesur Plant a Theuluoedd (Cymru) 2010 yn parhau i ddarparu'r fframwaith deddfwriaethol ar gyfer trechu tlodi plant yng Nghymru. Mae'n gosod dyletswydd ar Weinidogion Cymru a chyrff cyhoeddus a enwir i osod amcanion ar gyfer trechu tlodi plant. Cyhoeddodd y Llywodraeth Cymru flaenorol ei strategaeth tlodi plant ddiwygiedig ym mis Rhagfyr 2015, ac ar ôl gwerthuso'r strategaeth a'r asesiad, cyhoeddwyd adroddiad cynnydd ym mis Rhagfyr 2016. Fodd bynnag, nid yw'n glir sut y defnyddir y strategaeth hon, na sut, heddiw, y mae'n ffurfio meddylfryd y Llywodraeth bresennol. Gwelir 'Symud Cymru Ymlaen', strategaeth sylfaenol y Llywodraeth fel y cyfrwng newydd ar gyfer rhoi camau ar waith; ond nid oes cyfeiriad penodol at dlodi ynddi, ar wahân i sôn yn fras am dlodi tanwydd. Yn wir, strategaeth genedlaethol flaenllaw'r Llywodraeth 'Ffyniant i Bawb' - yn honno nid oes ond un cyfeiriad at dlodi, sydd i'w weld yn nhestun blaenoriaeth drawsbynciol y blynyddoedd cynnar, ond wrth gwrs ni cheir cynllun gweithredu tlodi plant ar gyfer cyflawni'r strategaeth. Roedd gan y Llywodraeth gynllun gweithredu trechu tlodi ehangach gyda cherrig milltir mesuradwy, targedau a dangosyddion perfformiad allweddol rhwng 2013 a 2016. Fodd bynnag, daeth y cynllun hwn i ben gyda diwedd y Llywodraeth ddiwethaf, ac nid ydym wedi gweld unrhyw gynllun gweithredu newydd ar gyfer cyflawni'r agenda hon. Wrth gwrs, yr hyn a welsom er hynny, yw dileu'r rhaglen wrth-dlodi Cymunedau yn Gyntaf, gwelsom ddileu'r grant gwisg ysgol cyn i'r penderfyniad gael ei wrthdroi wedyn oherwydd protestio croch gan y cyhoedd, gwyddom fod Dechrau'n Deg yn darparu gwasanaeth, ond mae'n loteri cod post i raddau helaeth, a chafwyd adroddiad yn ddiweddar gan y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg yn dweud nad yw'r rhan fwyaf o'r plant sydd angen y gwasanaethau hynny'n byw yn yr ardaloedd sy'n cynnig mynediad atynt, ac wrth gwrs, rydym bellach yn gweld y Llywodraeth yn cyflwyno cynnig gofal plant sy'n bwriadu rhoi gofal plant am ddim i gyplau sy'n ennill hyd at £200,000 y flwyddyn ond sy'n gwahardd y plant tlotaf o deuluoedd di-waith rhag cael yr un cymorth. Mae grŵp cynghori ar dlodi a sefydlwyd o dan y Llywodraeth ddiwethaf gyda chynrychiolaeth o bob sector a grŵp allweddol hefyd wedi cael ei ddileu. Y gwir trist yw bod Cymru yn awr heb brif darged neu addewid tebyg i ddileu tlodi plant erbyn dyddiad penodol yn y dyfodol, ac nid ymddengys bod awydd, o'r hyn rwy'n ei weld gan y Llywodraeth hon, i gyflwyno targed o'r fath ychwaith. Ond rhaid inni gael uchelgais, a rhaid inni gael targed i anelu ato. Sut arall y gallwn fesur a yw polisïau'r Llywodraeth yn llwyddiannus ai peidio mewn unrhyw ffordd ystyrlon? Galwodd Pwyllgor y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau'r Plentyn am dargedau pendant o fewn ffrâm amser yn ôl ym mis Gorffennaf 2016. Galwodd Sefydliad Joseph Rowntree am greu nod i weld llai nag un o bob 10 o bobl yn byw mewn tlodi ar unrhyw un adeg erbyn 2030. Yn wir, byddai 2030 fel targed yn cyd-fynd â nodau datblygu cynaliadwy Cymru ar roi terfyn ar dlodi ac anghydraddoldeb, gan ddarparu perthynas gadarn â bwriadau Deddf llesiant cenedlaethau'r dyfodol. Mae Rhwydwaith Dileu Tlodi Plant Cymru hefyd wedi galw dro ar ôl tro ar Lywodraeth Cymru i adnewyddu ei huchelgais flaenorol a gosod prif dargedau newydd, rhywbeth rydym ni ym Mhlaid Cymru yn ei gefnogi'n gadarn. Hefyd nid oes gan y Llywodraeth fecanwaith adrodd blynyddol a fyddai'n dwyn ynghyd yr holl weithgareddau mewn un lle a fyddai'n caniatáu gwell dealltwriaeth o sut y mae'r holl wahanol raglenni - megis Dechrau'n Deg, Teuluoedd yn Gyntaf, y gwahanol ffrydiau a pholisïau ariannu - yn cyfrannu gyda'i gilydd tuag at darged cyffredinol. Gallai un cynllun cydlynol o'r fath fod yn grynodeb o gamau gweithredu sydd eisoes yn bodoli gyda thargedau clir sy'n ategu ei gilydd a cherrig milltir a naratif cryf o'i amgylch yn ogystal i adfywio'r holl ddadl ynghylch tlodi plant. Bydd hynny'n gymorth inni symud o broblemau i atebion hefyd ac yn anfon neges ddiamwys at yr holl bartneriaid cyflenwi, gan gynnwys cyrff cyhoeddus a byrddau gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, ynglŷn â bwriad clir a disgwyliadau'r Llywodraeth, gan roi ffocws penodol ar drechu tlodi plant. Cymharwch ein sefyllfa yng Nghymru gyda'r Alban, lle mae Llywodraeth yr Alban wedi pennu targedau newydd ar gyfer 2030, megis cael llai na 10 y cant yn byw mewn tlodi cymharol, llai na 5 y cant yn byw mewn tlodi eithafol, llai na 5 y cant yn byw mewn tlodi parhaus - a cheir rhai eraill hefyd. Maent hefyd wedi cyhoeddi cynllun cyflawni ar dlodi plant, sy'n nodi'n glir y camau i'w cymryd er mwyn symud ymlaen tuag at y targedau tlodi plant uchelgeisiol a osodwyd ar gyfer 2030. Mae'n ofid i mi fod ymateb ein Llywodraeth yma yng Nghymru wedi bod yn wan mewn cymhariaeth. Mae argymhellion allweddol a wnaed gan y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb, Llywodraeth Leol a Chymunedau y dylid cyhoeddi strategaeth trechu tlodi glir a bod Llywodraeth Cymru'n datblygu dangosfwrdd o ddangosyddion tlodi ill dau wedi'u gwrthod. Buaswn yn annog y Llywodraeth i ailystyried eu penderfyniad i'w gwrthod ac i edrych ar y cynigion hyn eto. Mae Plaid Cymru wedi bod yn glir o ran ein polisïau: rydym am weld gofal plant ar gael i bob rhiant yn hytrach na'r cynigion cyfyngedig sydd ar gael gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Pam na allwn ailgyfeirio rhaglenni sgiliau oedolion i wobrwyo darparwyr am ganlyniadau megis incwm yn hytrach na chymwysterau a enillwyd? Ac wrth gwrs rydym am weld mabwysiadu polisi 'dim troi allan' oherwydd toriadau i fudd-daliadau ar gyfer pob teulu â phlant. Rwy'n sylweddoli fod amser yn brin felly fe wnaf un pwynt pwysig, a gwneuthum bwynt tebyg mewn dadl gynharach. Yn aml iawn, mae cryfderau i gael ymagwedd drawslywodraethol tuag at rai o'r materion ehangach hyn, ond gall fod risgiau yn ogystal. Nid wyf yn argyhoeddedig yn y cyd-destun hwn ei fod yn gweithio mewn gwirionedd. Mae'n dweud rhywbeth nad oedd gennyf syniad o gwbl pa Weinidog neu Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet oedd yn mynd i fod yn ymateb i'r ddadl hon y prynhawn yma. Nid wyf yn siŵr beth y mae hynny'n ei ddweud wrthym ynglŷn ag eglurder ynghylch pwy sy'n arwain ar hyn yn y Llywodraeth. Efallai fod digon o yrwyr sedd gefn, ond pwy sy'n eistedd yn sedd y gyrrwr yma, pwy sy'n arwain ar yr agenda hon, pwy sy'n arwain yr ymosodiad ar y tu blaen? Rwy'n brin o amser, felly rwyf am gloi fy sylwadau drwy ddweud bod tlodi plant yng Nghymru yn gwaethygu ac mae angen i ymateb y Llywodraeth adlewyrchu'r ffaith honno, oherwydd mae'n ffaith. Mae angen inni ddwysáu ein gweithredoedd, cryfhau ein hymdrechion, a bod yn fwy uchelgeisiol ac yn fwy penderfynol nag erioed i gael gwared ar y pla hwn o Gymru. Fel Romelu Lukaku, mae angen inni chwarae gêm ein bywydau er mwyn trechu tlodi plant. Mae angen yr un math o adferiad yn y cyd-destun hwn ag y profodd tîm Gwlad Belg y noson o'r blaen yn erbyn Japan. Rwy'n gobeithio, yn ei ymateb, y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn adlewyrchu'r un teimlad yn union, yr un uchelgais, yr un penderfyniad, ond gan weithredu i gefnogi hynny.