English: I think something that the committee heard evidence on was that the issue of local connection is not addressed in a way that is consistent and coherent across Wales. So, this is something that I'll certainly be ensuring that the independent assessment does take into account in terms of identifying the best way forward there, because I know that there was strong evidence heard by the committee about the way in which that is being applied. On my recent visit to Scotland, I had the opportunity to visit some third sector providers of homelessness services, and I was exploring with them their experiences of the abolition of priority need in Scotland. That was a really enlightening opportunity to talk to people who have had that experience. We did discuss the impact that it's had on increasing the use of temporary accommodation and once again highlighted the importance of understanding those potential unintended consequences before making changes. Anecdotally, I heard that the population that is staying for long periods in temporary accommodation in Edinburgh, for example, has risen from 200 to over 600, following the abolition of priority need. And, of course, walking around Edinburgh, it was clear to me that the issue of rough-sleeping still is very much a concern and it hasn't been eradicated in the city. My discussions also reinforced the fundamental importance of the availability of good-quality housing in tackling all forms of homelessness. Meeting housing needs regardless of priority is primarily a housing supply issue, and I'm proud of the work that we're doing in Wales on this and the progress that we're making towards our 20,000 affordable homes target. Another important area that the committee recognised is improving access to the private rented sector, which has seen a significant share of the transitional funding allocated over the last few years to local authorities to increase their supply of private-sector properties available for people who are homeless. For people who rent, issues of affordability, quality and security of tenure are very real, and that's why this Government has placed, and continues to place, a great emphasis on ensuring that the private rented sector is well regulated and well managed. And it is in this way that we can help ensure that it offers a viable long-term solution for people who choose or need to rent in the private rented sector. Just yesterday, Bethan Sayed sponsored an excellent event in the Assembly, where Tai Pawb and the Residential Landlords Association had worked together through the Open Doors project to ensure that there was information and support for landlords to open up the opportunities for the private rented sector to people who they wouldn't necessarily traditionally think of renting to, and that could certainly include homeless people. And Rent Smart Wales will be looking at that project in terms of offering training for landlords. So, as well as a good-quality home, we also need to ensure that vulnerable individuals have the right support in place, and the committee rightly recognised the benefits of housing-led approaches, such as housing first, which centres on quickly moving people experiencing homelessness into accommodation and then providing additional support and services as required. Key features of that approach are that the service user should have choice and control and that housing is not conditional on support or treatment. The approach is intended for people with the most complex needs, and it might not be suitable for all rough-sleepers. It's one of the range of housing options that may be offered to rough-sleepers, and we know that there is much more work needed in order to increase its use. But, again, I'm really clear that the principles of housing first must be adhered to. It's not about repackaging supported accommodation, it's not about ghettoising people who are rough-sleepers; it's about offering a genuine, new and innovative way to support them. As the evidence presented to the committee clearly demonstrates, the reasons for rough-sleeping are extremely complex and the solutions are not solely housing focused. Health, social services, community safety and others all have a role to play, and I do take Members' comments about having meaningful engagement from all partners. We're certainly, in Government, working across traditional boundaries to deliver the rough-sleepers action plan, and we are taking a whole-of-Government approach. For example, the Cabinet Secretary for health leads on substance misuse, but in the action plan there there are clear actions regarding homelessness. The same applies again to the mental health delivery plan; there are specific actions in there to take forward on homelessness. So, to conclude, as a Government, we are investing heavily in tackling all forms of homelessness with an additional £10 million in each of the next two years, plus an additional £10 million for youth homelessness in 2019-20. As I outlined to the Chamber earlier this year, I've deliberately not laid out how every penny will be spent this year. I'm currently reviewing progress and the evidence from the pilots last year and will consider this evidence alongside the research reports, which are due in the summer. I will also continue to work with partners to consider how the action plan needs to evolve and respond to the committee's report and other emerging evidence to ensure the effective delivery of this vital agenda. Thank you.
Welsh: Rwy'n credu mai un o'r pethau y clywodd y pwyllgor dystiolaeth arno oedd na roddir sylw i fater cysylltiad lleol mewn ffordd sy'n gyson ac yn gydlynol ar draws Cymru. Felly, dyma rywbeth y byddaf yn bendant yn sicrhau bod yr asesiad annibynnol yn ei ystyried o ran nodi'r ffordd orau ymlaen yn hynny o beth, oherwydd gwn fod y pwyllgor wedi clywed tystiolaeth gref am y ffordd y gwneir hynny. Ar fy ymweliad diweddar â'r Alban, cefais gyfle i ymweld â rhai o ddarparwyr gwasanaethau digartrefedd y trydydd sector, ac archwilio eu profiadau o ddiddymu angen blaenoriaethol yn yr Alban. Roedd hwnnw'n gyfle dadlennol iawn i siarad â phobl sydd wedi cael y profiad hwnnw. Trafodwyd yr effaith a gafodd ar gynyddu'r defnydd o lety dros dro ac unwaith eto tynnodd hynny sylw at bwysigrwydd deall y canlyniadau anfwriadol posibl cyn gwneud newidiadau. Yn anecdotaidd, clywais fod y boblogaeth sy'n aros am gyfnodau hir mewn llety dros dro yng Nghaeredin, er enghraifft, wedi codi o 200 i dros 600, yn dilyn diddymu'r angen blaenoriaethol. Ac wrth gwrs, wrth gerdded o amgylch Caeredin, roedd yn amlwg i mi fod cysgu ar y stryd yn parhau'n destun pryder mawr ac nid yw wedi ei ddileu yn y ddinas. Roedd fy nhrafodaethau hefyd yn atgyfnerthu pwysigrwydd sylfaenol argaeledd tai o ansawdd da wrth fynd i'r afael â phob math o ddigartrefedd. Mae diwallu anghenion tai ni waeth beth yw'r flaenoriaeth yn ymwneud yn bennaf â chyflenwad tai, ac rwy'n falch o'r gwaith yr ydym yn ei wneud yng Nghymru ar hyn a'r cynnydd a wnawn tuag at ein targed o 20,000 o gartrefi fforddiadwy. Maes pwysig arall a gydnabuwyd gan y pwyllgor oedd gwella mynediad at y sector rhentu preifat, sydd wedi gweld cyfran sylweddol o'r cyllid pontio a ddyrannwyd dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd diwethaf i awdurdodau lleol i gynyddu eu cyflenwad o eiddo sector preifat sydd ar gael i bobl sy'n ddigartref. Ar gyfer pobl sy'n rhentu, mae materion fforddiadwyedd, ansawdd a diogelwch deiliadaeth yn real iawn, a dyna pam y mae'r Llywodraeth hon wedi gosod, ac yn parhau i osod pwyslais mawr ar sicrhau bod y sector rhentu preifat yn cael ei reoleiddio a'i reoli'n dda. Ac yn y modd hwn, gallwn helpu i sicrhau ei fod yn cynnig ateb hirdymor ymarferol i bobl sy'n dewis neu sydd angen rhentu yn y sector rhentu preifat. Ddoe ddiwethaf, noddodd Bethan Sayed ddigwyddiad rhagorol yn y Cynulliad, lle roedd Tai Pawb a'r Gymdeithas Landlordiaid Preswyl wedi gweithio gyda'i gilydd drwy'r prosiect Agor Drysau er mwyn sicrhau bod gwybodaeth a chymorth i landlordiaid er mwyn agor cyfleoedd yn y sector rhentu preifat i bobl na fyddai landlordiaid o reidrwydd yn draddodiadol yn ystyried rhentu iddynt, a gallai hynny gynnwys pobl ddigartref yn sicr. A bydd Rhentu Doeth Cymru yn edrych ar y prosiect hwnnw o ran cynnig hyfforddiant i landlordiaid. Felly, yn ogystal â chartref o safon, dylem hefyd sicrhau bod y cymorth cywir yn ei le ar gyfer unigolion sy'n agored i niwed, ac yn briodol, roedd y pwyllgor yn cydnabod manteision dulliau wedi'u harwain gan dai, megis tai yn gyntaf, sy'n canolbwyntio ar symud pobl sy'n profi digartrefedd yn gyflym i lety a darparu cefnogaeth a gwasanaethau ychwanegol wedyn fel sy'n ofynnol. Nodweddion allweddol y dull hwnnw o weithredu yw y dylai defnyddwyr gwasanaethau gael dewis a rheolaeth ac nad yw tai yn amodol ar gymorth neu driniaeth. Bwriad y dull yw gwasanaethu'r bobl sydd â'r anghenion mwyaf cymhleth, ac efallai na fyddai'n addas ar gyfer pawb sy'n cysgu ar y stryd. Mae'n un o ystod o opsiynau tai a gynigir i'r rheini sy'n cysgu ar y stryd, a gwyddom fod angen llawer mwy o waith er mwyn cynyddu ei ddefnydd. Ond unwaith eto, rwy'n sicr fod yn rhaid glynu at egwyddorion tai yn gyntaf. Nid yw'n ymwneud ag ailbecynnu llety â chymorth, nid yw'n ymwneud â gosod pobl sy'n cysgu ar y stryd mewn geto; mae'n ymwneud â chynnig ffordd arloesol, newydd a dilys o'u cefnogi. Fel y dengys y dystiolaeth a gyflwynwyd i'r pwyllgor yn glir, mae'r rhesymau dros gysgu ar y stryd yn hynod gymhleth ac nid yw'r atebion yn canolbwyntio'n unig ar dai. Mae gan iechyd, gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, diogelwch cymunedol a phethau eraill rôl i'w chwarae, ac rwy'n derbyn sylwadau'r Aelodau ynglŷn â chael ymwneud ystyrlon gan yr holl bartneriaid. Yn sicr, rydym ni fel Llywodraeth yn gweithio ar draws ffiniau traddodiadol i gyflawni'r cynllun gweithredu ar gysgu ar y stryd, ac rydym yn mabwysiadu ymagwedd Llywodraeth gyfan. Er enghraifft, mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd yn arwain ar gamddefnyddio sylweddau, ond yn y cynllun gweithredu yno ceir camau clir ynglŷn â digartrefedd. Mae'r un peth yn wir eto am y cynllun cyflawni ar gyfer iechyd meddwl; ceir camau gweithredu penodol yno i'w rhoi ar waith ar ddigartrefedd. Felly, i gloi, fel Llywodraeth, rydym yn buddsoddi llawer iawn yn y gwaith o fynd i'r afael â phob math o ddigartrefedd gyda £10 miliwn ychwanegol yn flynyddol dros y ddwy flynedd nesaf, ynghyd â £10 miliwn ychwanegol ar gyfer digartrefedd ymhlith ieuenctid yn 2019-20. Fel yr amlinellais yn y Siambr yn gynharach eleni, yn fwriadol ni nodais sut y caiff pob ceiniog ei gwario eleni. Rwyf ar hyn o bryd yn adolygu'r cynnydd a'r dystiolaeth o gynlluniau peilot y llynedd a byddaf yn ystyried y dystiolaeth hon ochr yn ochr â'r adroddiadau ymchwil sydd i'w cyhoeddi yn yr haf. Byddaf hefyd yn parhau i weithio gyda phartneriaid i ystyried sut y mae angen i'r cynllun gweithredu esblygu ac ymateb i adroddiad y pwyllgor a thystiolaeth arall sy'n dod i'r amlwg er mwyn sicrhau y caiff yr agenda hollbwysig hon ei chyflawni. Diolch.