English: Diolch. Amendment 142 removes section 164, 'Combined fire and rescue authorities: inquiries'. Section 164 of the Bill covers inquiries into finance and governance arrangements for fire and rescue authorities. These are established by combination Orders under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004. Section 164 amends the 2004 Act to remove the requirement for Welsh Ministers to hold an inquiry when varying an authority's combination Order, except where the variation alters the area served by a fire and rescue authority, or would revoke the combination Order with a view to creating a wholly different configuration of fire and rescue authorities in Wales. However, the Equalities, Local Government and Communities Committee heard unanimous evidence from the Welsh fire and rescue authorities and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service regarding this provision. South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority noted its grave concerns, explaining that the provision was put in place for a reason, which was to ensure that due regard was given to the safety of firefighters or the community before changes were implemented that could detrimentally impact on these. South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority emphasised that this change is an extremely concerning step, as it could result in unsuitable or ill-thought-through changes being made to some of the key areas noted without sufficient inquiry, debate, scrutiny or challenge. North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority also strongly voiced its concerns, noting that the notion that changing, for example, governance or funding arrangements of fire and rescue authorities that are currently being considered would have no direct impact on public or firefighter safety is flawed. It would suggest, they said, that placing convenience over the protections afforded by the need to hold an inquiry in Wales would seem a retrograde step, not without some risk to public and firefighter safety. And Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority stated that there are clear flaws in the proposals and that such inquiries enhance and facilitate good decision making, adding that, if proposals are impractical or ill thought out or unreasonable, an inquiry would act as an open and efficient brake or filter on any such proposals and is consequently very much in the public interest. Thus, as the committee's Stage 1 report stated, south Wales and mid and west Wales fire and rescue authorities were clear in requesting that the provision in section 164 be removed from the Bill. During Stage 2, the Minister argued that removing this additional and unnecessary requirement will simplify an overcomplicated and expansive process. However, such a statement does not respond to the concerns of the fire and rescue services and authorities that have spoken out with knowledge and authority against the Welsh Government's current intentions with regard to public inquiries. This is not simplification; this is removing checks and balances within the system, and that is a highly dangerous step to take.
Welsh: Diolch. Mae gwelliant 142 yn dileu adran 164, 'Awdurdodau tân ac achub cyfunol: ymchwiliadau'. Mae adran 164 o'r Bil yn ymdrin ag ymchwiliadau i drefniadau cyllid a llywodraethu ar gyfer awdurdodau tân ac achub. Mae'r rhain wedi'u sefydlu drwy Orchmynion cyfunol o dan Ddeddf y Gwasanaethau Tân ac Achub 2004. Mae adran 164 yn diwygio Deddf 2004 i ddileu'r gofyniad i Weinidogion Cymru gynnal ymchwiliad wrth amrywio Gorchymyn cyfunol awdurdod, ac eithrio pan fo'r amrywiad yn newid yr ardal a wasanaethir gan yr awdurdod tân ac achub, neu y byddai'n dirymu'r Gorchymyn cyfunol gyda'r bwriad o greu trefn cwbl wahanol o awdurdodau tân ac achub yng Nghymru. Fodd bynnag, clywodd y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb, Llywodraeth Leol a Chymunedau dystiolaeth unfrydol gan awdurdodau tân ac achub Cymru a Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub Canolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru ynglŷn â'r ddarpariaeth hon. Nododd Awdurdod Tân ac Achub De Cymru eu pryderon difrifol, gan esbonio bod y ddarpariaeth wedi'i rhoi ar waith am reswm, sef sicrhau bod sylw dyledus yn cael ei roi i ddiogelwch diffoddwyr tân neu'r gymuned cyn i newidiadau gael eu gweithredu a allai gael effaith andwyol ar y rhain. Pwysleisiodd Awdurdod Tân ac Achub De Cymru fod y newid hwn yn gam sy'n peri pryder mawr, gan y gallai arwain at wneud newidiadau anaddas neu ddifeddwl i rai o'r meysydd allweddol wedi'u nodi heb ddigon o ymchwil, dadl, craffu na her. Mynegodd Awdurdod Tân ac Achub Gogledd Cymru ei bryderon yn gryf hefyd, gan nodi bod y syniad na fyddai newid, er enghraifft, trefniadau llywodraethu neu gyllido awdurdodau tân ac achub sy'n cael eu hystyried ar hyn o bryd yn cael unrhyw effaith uniongyrchol ar ddiogelwch y cyhoedd na diffoddwyr tân yn ddiffygiol. Byddai'n awgrymu, medden nhw, y byddai rhoi blaenoriaeth i gyfleustra ar draul y diogelu sydd wedi'i gynnig gan yr angen i gynnal ymchwiliad yng Nghymru yn ymddangos yn gam yn ôl, nid heb rywfaint o risg i ddiogelwch y cyhoedd a diffoddwyr tân. A dywedodd Awdurdod Tân ac Achub Canolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru fod diffygion amlwg yn y cynigion a bod ymchwiliadau o'r fath yn gwella ac yn hwyluso penderfyniadau da, gan ychwanegu, os yw cynigion yn anymarferol neu'n ddifeddwl neu'n afresymol, y byddai ymchwiliad yn gweithredu fel brêc neu hidlydd agored ac effeithlon ar unrhyw gynigion o'r fath ac, o ganlyniad, ei fod wir er budd y cyhoedd. Felly, fel y dywedodd adroddiad Cyfnod 1 y pwyllgor, roedd awdurdodau tân ac achub de Cymru a chanolbarth a gorllewin Cymru yn glir wrth ofyn bod y ddarpariaeth yn adran 164 yn cael ei dileu o'r Bil. Yn ystod Cyfnod 2, dadleuodd y Gweinidog y bydd dileu'r gofyniad ychwanegol a diangen hwn yn symleiddio proses rhy gymhleth ac eang. Fodd bynnag, nid yw datganiad o'r fath yn ymateb i bryderon y gwasanaethau tân ac achub ac awdurdodau sydd wedi siarad yn wybodus ac awdurdodol yn erbyn bwriadau presennol Llywodraeth Cymru o ran ymchwiliadau cyhoeddus. Nid symleiddio yw hyn; dileu cadw cydbwysedd o fewn y system yw hyn, ac mae hynny'n gam peryglus iawn i'w gymryd.