English: Elyn Stephens. Thank you very much. During International Women's Day, she spoke fervently about the struggle to get this agenda forward and why she was so passionate about it. She was very impressive in doing so and I was very privileged to hear her. It's a testimony to the councillors in Rhondda Cynon Taf that they persisted in getting this agenda moved up. She was very inspirational in talking about it, and certainly well worth listening to, and I'm going to have the privilege of meeting her to talk further about what we can do as a Government in two weeks' time. So, I'm very much looking forward to doing that. She did speak a great deal not just about period poverty, but, as many Members in the Chamber have talked about, about period dignity and the need for education and the need for knowledge, and how both education and knowledge are essential in order to maintain dignity, as well as to have the money necessary to have essentials in your life. And so, we very much want to work across those pieces in the Welsh Government, in order to get all of that - both period poverty and period dignity - into our policy on this matter. As many Members have already mentioned, we've put a fund together very rapidly of £700,000 capital grant funding, and I'm delighted to say that all 22 local authorities have taken up the offer of that grant funding. The round of funding is being used to make necessary improvements to school toilet facilities where they are not adequately set up to meet the needs of pupils. And I'd just like to highlight, as other Members have also done, that that includes primary schools, where often the toilet blocks are not adequate for that. It could mean the provision of disposal bins or changes to toilet cubicles. Other rounds of funding totalling £440,000 for this financial year and next year are also being offered to complement the grant. We have several local authorities that have already taken up the offer of the first year's funding, and we're working with all of them to make sure that we spread that right across Wales. These will be used to provide feminine hygiene products through local authorities' networks, and in partnership with local third sector organisations. Basically, our aim is to make sanitary products available for those who cannot afford them. Food banks are an important outlet, and I think Jane Hutt mentioned specific food banks in her area as well. But there are other potential outlets, such as homeless shelters and women's refuges, for example. I know Caroline Jones mentioned one that's in my constituency that's very good in terms of the packs that they put together - care packs they're called. It's very interesting, because it's not just about sanitary protection, actually. They provide washing and wipe facilities and so on. That brings me on to the next thing that we've asked local authorities to consider, which is we've asked them to consider providing reusable products or environmentally friendly products, because as several Members pointed out, sanitary protection can be very hard to recycle, actually, and can cause other ecologically unacceptable problems, and we want to be able to tackle some of those at the same time. So, I think local authorities efforts are to be applauded. I do think that there are further actions necessary, though, and they are outside the education system as well. I think at this point it is worth mentioning, as many people have mentioned it, that the Cabinet Secretary is going to be making a statement on the sex and healthy relationships report later on this month, in a few weeks' time. So, in terms of future actions, we've got officials working across Welsh Government to explore further options, including provision through sexual health services and community partnerships. We're also considering options for distribution via programmes that target low-income families, such as Flying Start and Families First. We also have a series of regular meetings with colleagues in the Scottish and UK Governments, so we can learn from one another's actions and offer support on new policies to tackle both period poverty and period dignity. And, as Members will all know, the First Minister has asked me to undertake a rapid review of our gender and equality policies to bring in a new impetus to our work in this area, and this will certainly include a review of the period poverty and dignity issue that Members all raise, and has already been raised by stakeholders in our initial stakeholder engagements. In terms of education, the Welsh Government is committed to ensuring children and young people reach their full potential, regardless of background and circumstances, and this includes helping learners to overcome barriers to learning created by social and economic circumstances. So, schools have well-understood arrangements in place to support learner well-being. Pupils ought to know where to go and, as Vikki Howells pointed out, it's essential that that communication is in the school, so they know who to speak to if they need sanitary products while they're in school, whilst maintaining dignity. Adolescent girls in particular can be very sensitive with these matters. Looking forward, these issues are going to be covered under the new curriculum, which will consider how the school environment supports the social, emotional, spiritual and physical health and well-being of pupils, and will be instrumental in supporting one of the main aims of the new curriculum and assisting our children to become healthy, confident individuals. In terms of health, period poverty, as many Members have also pointed out, is also a health matter. Period poverty is due to be discussed at the next meeting of the sexual health programme board, because it's vital that all girls and women have access to the sanitary products they need, especially if they have health problems as well. Effective menstrual hygiene is vital to the health, well-being, dignity, empowerment, mobility and productivity of women and girls and, therefore, it's an essential plank of this Government's action in terms of gender equality throughout Wales. We'll continue to keep abreast of emerging research to inform the decisions we make and ensure that the actions we take support as many people as possible in Wales. I'm keen to know more about how low-income families in Wales are affected. So, research into the scale of period poverty across foodbank users, including the Trussell Trust, is planned for the coming months. Officials are also looking at options to work with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, who manage the UK Government's tampon tax fund, to ensure that we maximise the benefit from that fund for Wales. So, I think there is a range of issues, but I'm very grateful to Members for bringing this matter forward so that we can discuss it fully. I also want to say that I'd welcome very much any other ideas that Members want to bring forward as part of the review or in any other way, so that we can consider how we could best support those ideas. Diolch.
Welsh: Elyn Stephens. Diolch yn fawr iawn. Yn ystod Diwrnod Rhyngwladol y Menywod, siaradodd yn frwd am y frwydr i fwrw'r agenda hon yn ei blaen a pham ei bod hi'n teimlo mor gryf am y peth. Roedd yn drawiadol iawn wrth wneud hynny, ac roedd yn fraint cael ei chlywed. Mae'n dyst i gynghorwyr yn Rhondda Cynon Taf eu bod wedi parhau i gael yr agenda hon i symud. Roedd hi'n ysbrydoledig iawn yn y modd y siaradai amdano, ac yn sicr yn werth gwrando arni, ac rwy'n mynd i gael y fraint o'i chyfarfod i siarad ymhellach am yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud fel Llywodraeth ymhen pythefnos. Felly, rwy'n edrych ymlaen at wneud hynny. Fe siaradodd lawer iawn, nid yn unig am dlodi misglwyf, ond fel y mae llawer o'r Aelodau yn y Siambr wedi sôn, am urddas misglwyf a'r angen am addysg ac am wybodaeth, a sut y mae addysg a gwybodaeth yn hanfodol er mwyn cynnal urddas, yn ogystal â chael yr arian sy'n angenrheidiol er mwyn cael hanfodion yn eich bywyd. Ac felly, rydym yn awyddus iawn i weithio ar draws yr elfennau hynny yn Llywodraeth Cymru, er mwyn cael hynny i gyd - tlodi misglwyf ac urddas misglwyf - yn rhan o'n polisi ar y mater hwn. Fel y soniodd llawer o'r Aelodau eisoes, rydym wedi llunio cronfa'n gyflym iawn o £700,000 o arian grant cyfalaf, ac rwy'n falch iawn o ddweud bod pob un o'r 22 awdurdod lleol wedi manteisio ar y cynnig hwnnw o arian grant. Defnyddir y rownd o gyllid i wneud gwelliannau angenrheidiol i gyfleusterau toiledau ysgol lle nad ydynt yn ddigonol i ddiwallu anghenion disgyblion. A hoffwn dynnu sylw, fel y gwnaeth Aelodau eraill hefyd, at y ffaith bod hynny'n cynnwys ysgolion cynradd, lle mae'r toiledau'n aml yn annigonol ar gyfer hynny. Gallai olygu darparu biniau neu newidiadau i giwbiclau toiled. Cynigir rowndiau eraill o gyllid gwerth cyfanswm o £440,000 ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol hon a'r flwyddyn nesaf i ategu'r grant. Mae gennym nifer o awdurdodau lleol sydd eisoes wedi derbyn y cynnig o arian y flwyddyn gyntaf, ac rydym yn gweithio gyda phob un ohonynt i wneud yn siŵr ein bod yn gwasgaru hwnnw ar draws Cymru. Defnyddir hwn i ddarparu cynhyrchion misglwyf i fenywod drwy rwydweithiau awdurdodau lleol, ac mewn partneriaeth â sefydliadau trydydd sector lleol. Yn y bôn, ein nod yw sicrhau bod cynhyrchion misglwyf ar gael ar gyfer y rhai na allant eu fforddio. Mae banciau bwyd yn fan dosbarthu pwysig, ac rwy'n credu bod Jane Hutt wedi crybwyll banciau bwyd penodol yn ei hardal hi hefyd. Ond ceir mannau eraill posibl, megis llochesi i'r digartref a llochesi i fenywod, er enghraifft. Gwn fod Caroline Jones wedi crybwyll un yn fy etholaeth sy'n dda iawn o ran y pecynnau y maent yn eu rhoi at ei gilydd - fe'u gelwir yn becynnau gofal. Mae'n ddiddorol iawn, oherwydd nid â chynhyrchion misglwyf yn unig y mae'n ymwneud mewn gwirionedd. Maent yn darparu deunydd ymolchi a sychu ac ati. Daw hynny â mi at y peth nesaf yr ydym wedi gofyn i awdurdodau lleol ei ystyried, sef darparu cynhyrchion y gellir eu hailddefnyddio neu gynnyrch ecogyfeillgar, oherwydd fel y nododd sawl Aelod, mae deunydd misglwyf yn gallu bod yn anodd iawn ei ailgylchu mewn gwirionedd, a gall achosi problemau ecolegol annerbyniol eraill, ac rydym am allu mynd i'r afael â rhai o'r rheini ar yr un pryd. Felly, credaf y dylid cymeradwyo ymdrechion awdurdodau lleol. Rwy'n credu bod angen camau gweithredu pellach er hynny, ac maent y tu allan i'r system addysg yn ogystal. Ar y pwynt hwn, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n werth crybwyll, fel y mae llawer o bobl wedi sôn, fod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn mynd i fod yn gwneud datganiad ar yr adroddiad rhyw a pherthnasoedd iach yn ddiweddarach y mis hwn, ymhen ychydig wythnosau. Felly, o ran gweithredu yn y dyfodol, mae gennym swyddogion yn gweithio ar draws Llywodraeth Cymru i archwilio opsiynau pellach, gan gynnwys darpariaeth drwy bartneriaethau cymunedol a gwasanaethau iechyd rhywiol. Rydym hefyd yn ystyried opsiynau ar gyfer dosbarthu drwy raglenni sy'n targedu teuluoedd incwm isel, megis Dechrau'n Deg a Teuluoedd yn Gyntaf. Hefyd, rydym yn cael cyfres o gyfarfodydd rheolaidd gyda chydweithwyr yn Llywodraeth yr Alban a Llywodraeth y DU, fel y gallwn ddysgu o'r camau a roddir ar waith gan y tair Llywodraeth a chynnig cefnogaeth ar bolisïau newydd i fynd i'r afael â thlodi misglwyf ac urddas misglwyf. Ac, fel y bydd yr Aelodau oll yn gwybod, mae Prif Weinidog Cymru wedi gofyn imi gynnal adolygiad cyflym o'n polisïau rhywedd a chydraddoldeb er mwyn rhoi hwb newydd i'n gwaith yn y maes hwn, a bydd hyn yn sicr yn cynnwys adolygiad o'r mater tlodi ac urddas misglwyf y mae'r Aelodau yn ei godi, ac sydd eisoes wedi'i godi gan randdeiliaid yn ein digwyddiadau cychwynnol i randdeiliaid. O ran addysg, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo i sicrhau bod plant a phobl ifanc yn cyrraedd eu potensial llawn, waeth beth fo'u cefndir a'u hamgylchiadau, ac mae hyn yn cynnwys helpu dysgwyr i oresgyn rhwystrau rhag dysgu a grëwyd gan amgylchiadau cymdeithasol ac economaidd. Felly, mae gan ysgolion drefniadau ar waith sy'n cael eu deall yn dda i gefnogi llesiant dysgwyr. Dylai disgyblion wybod ble i fynd ac fel y nododd Vikki Howells, mae'n hanfodol fod cyfathrebu'n digwydd yn yr ysgol, fel eu bod yn gwybod â phwy i siarad os oes angen cynnyrch misglwyf arnynt pan fyddant yn yr ysgol, gan gynnal urddas. Gall merched yn eu harddegau yn arbennig fod yn sensitif iawn ynglŷn â'r materion hyn. Wrth edrych ymlaen, mae'r cwricwlwm newydd yn mynd i gynnwys y materion hyn, a bydd yn ystyried sut y mae amgylchedd yr ysgol yn cefnogi iechyd a lles cymdeithasol, emosiynol, ysbrydol a chorfforol disgyblion, a bydd yn gyfrwng i gefnogi un o brif nodau'r cwricwlwm newydd ac yn helpu ein plant i fod yn unigolion iach a hyderus. O ran iechyd, mae tlodi misglwyf, fel y mae llawer o'r Aelodau wedi nodi, yn fater iechyd yn ogystal. Mae tlodi misglwyf i fod i gael ei drafod yng nghyfarfod nesaf bwrdd y rhaglen iechyd rhywiol, oherwydd mae'n hanfodol fod gan bob merch a dynes ffordd o gael y cynhyrchion misglwyf sydd eu hangen arnynt, yn enwedig os oes ganddynt broblemau iechyd yn ogystal. Mae hylendid mislif effeithiol yn hanfodol i iechyd, lles, urddas, grym, symudedd a chynhyrchiant menywod a merched ac felly, mae'n elfen hanfodol o waith y Llywodraeth hon mewn perthynas â chydraddoldeb rhywiol ledled Cymru. Byddwn yn parhau i gadw llygad ar ymchwil sy'n dod i'r amlwg i lywio penderfyniadau a wnawn a sicrhau bod y camau a gymerwn yn cefnogi cynifer o bobl â phosibl yng Nghymru. Rwy'n awyddus i wybod mwy ynglŷn â sut yr effeithir ar deuluoedd incwm isel yng Nghymru. Felly, bwriedir cyflawni ymchwil i faint tlodi misglwyf ymhlith defnyddwyr banciau bwyd, gan gynnwys Ymddiriedolaeth Trussell, ar gyfer y misoedd i ddod. Mae swyddogion hefyd yn edrych ar opsiynau i weithio gyda'r Adran Ddigidol, Diwylliant, Cyfryngau a Chwaraeon, sy'n rheoli cronfa dreth ar damponau Llywodraeth y DU, i sicrhau ein bod yn manteisio i'r eithaf ar fudd y gronfa honno yng Nghymru. Felly, credaf fod yna amrywiaeth o faterion yn codi, ond rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i'r Aelodau am gyflwyno'r mater i ni allu ei drafod yn llawn. Hoffwn ddweud hefyd y buaswn yn croesawu unrhyw syniadau eraill y mae'r Aelodau am eu cyflwyno fel rhan o'r adolygiad, neu mewn unrhyw ffordd arall, fel y gallwn ystyried sut y gallem gefnogi'r syniadau hynny yn y ffordd orau. Diolch.