techiaith/cofnodycynulliad_en-cy huggingface dataset:
English: I know that the welfare and life chances of our children and young people, especially those in care, is a shared priority for Ministers and me. In the last decade, we have seen an increase in the number of children coming into the care of local authorities, and I know that support workers and others work incredibly hard to give children and young people in care the best start in life. This growth, however, has resulted in significant financial pressures on local authorities, with expenditure on children and families being, on average, the second largest area of spend for councils in Wales. Many local authorities are facing challenges with recruitment and the growing cost of residential care. So, may I ask the Minister, with the expectation that, sadly, more children and families will require support from their local councils in the coming year, what priority will this area of spend have in the forthcoming budget? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Welsh: Gwn fod lles a chyfleoedd bywyd ein plant a'n pobl ifanc, yn enwedig y rheini mewn gofal, yn flaenoriaeth a rennir gan y Gweinidogion a minnau. Dros y degawd diwethaf, rydym wedi gweld cynnydd yn nifer y plant sy'n derbyn gofal gan awdurdodau lleol, a gwn fod gweithwyr cymorth ac eraill yn gweithio'n hynod o galed i roi'r dechrau gorau mewn bywyd i blant a phobl ifanc mewn gofal. Mae'r cynnydd hwn, fodd bynnag, wedi arwain at bwysau ariannol sylweddol ar awdurdodau lleol, a gwariant ar blant a theuluoedd, ar gyfartaledd, yw'r maes gwariant mwyaf ond un i gynghorau yng Nghymru. Mae llawer o awdurdodau lleol yn wynebu heriau gyda recriwtio a chost gynyddol gofal preswyl. Felly, a gaf fi ofyn i'r Gweinidog, gyda'r disgwyliad, yn anffodus, y bydd angen cymorth gan eu cynghorau lleol ar fwy o blant a theuluoedd yn y flwyddyn i ddod, pa flaenoriaeth a roddir i'r maes gwariant hwn yn y gyllideb sydd i ddod? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
English: Thank you very much for raising this important issue, and it was an issue that was actually raised with me on my grand summer tour of local authorities and it's certainly something that is of significant concern to some of those authorities. And our programme for government does commit us to ensuring that we fund regional residential services to bring children with complex needs back home from care outside of Wales. I think that will be important both in terms of improving the care available to those children and in terms of the situation for local authorities and their finances. Spending on children and family services in Wales has increased significantly, by 31.5 per cent from 2015-16 to 2019-20. It's still the case, though, that a large amount of that is spent on children's care home placements. Our focus really has to be on ensuring that children are able to stay with their families, preventing family break-up by funding advocacy services for parents whose children are at risk of coming into care, providing additional specialist support for children with complex needs who might be on the edge of care, and also exploring the radical reform of current services for children who are looked after and care leavers. Those are absolutely critical parts of our programme for government and parts of the discussion I'm having with colleagues as we start to set our budget for the next financial year and the years beyond that.
Welsh: Diolch yn fawr iawn am godi'r mater pwysig hwn, ac roedd yn fater a grybwyllwyd wrthyf ar fy nhaith fawr dros yr haf o amgylch yr awdurdodau lleol, ac yn sicr, mae'n rhywbeth sy'n peri cryn bryder i rai o'r awdurdodau hynny. Ac mae ein rhaglen lywodraethu yn ein hymrwymo i sicrhau ein bod yn ariannu gwasanaethau preswyl rhanbarthol i ddod â phlant ag anghenion cymhleth adref o ofal y tu allan i Gymru. Credaf y bydd hynny'n bwysig er mwyn gwella'r gofal sydd ar gael i'r plant hynny ac o ran y sefyllfa i awdurdodau lleol a'u cyllid. Mae gwariant ar wasanaethau plant a theuluoedd yng Nghymru wedi cynyddu'n sylweddol, 31.5 y cant rhwng 2015-16 a 2019-20. Mae'n dal yn wir, serch hynny, fod cryn dipyn o'r gwariant hwnnw'n cael ei wario ar leoliadau cartrefi gofal plant. Mae'n rhaid inni ganolbwyntio ar sicrhau y gall plant aros gyda'u teuluoedd, atal teuluoedd rhag chwalu drwy ariannu gwasanaethau eiriolaeth ar gyfer rhieni y mae eu plant mewn perygl o fynd i ofal, darparu cymorth arbenigol ychwanegol i blant a chanddynt anghenion cymhleth a allai fod ar gyrion gofal, ac archwilio diwygio radical mewn perthynas â gwasanaethau cyfredol i blant sy'n derbyn gofal a phobl sy'n gadael gofal. Mae'r rheini'n rhannau cwbl hanfodol o'n rhaglen lywodraethu ac yn rhan o'r drafodaeth rwy'n ei chael gyda'm cyd-Aelodau wrth inni ddechrau gosod ein cyllideb ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf a'r blynyddoedd y tu hwnt i hynny.
English: The Minister may remember my remarks prior to recess regarding the Summer of Fun programme, where my question was whether or not funding for this programme was sufficient given the high rates of child obesity in Wales. During the summer recess, I was able to visit an organisation that provided activities for the Summer of Fun in South Wales Central, and I was extremely impressed at the range of activities that they offered. Not only did they provide physical activities, but activities that focused on team building, developing confidence and self-reliance as well. However, it was during my visit that I was made aware of a major issue, which I would ask the Minister to take on board for the future. Ultimately, those activity providers who had applied for funding to provide the Summer of Fun only received notification of the success of their bids four days before they were due to start. This made the process of filling spaces for activities quite chaotic, and gave some families too little time to organise themselves. This resulted in spaces being allocated but children not being able to make the activity. As such, this meant that the course was full even though, ultimately, there were spaces available on the day, which families could have taken advantage of had they known. I therefore ask if the Minister could carefully consider the timing of the funding for 2022, so that activity providers and families can maximise the opportunities available to them. Thank you.
Welsh: Efallai y bydd y Gweinidog yn cofio fy sylwadau cyn y toriad ynghylch rhaglen Haf o Hwyl, pan holais a oedd y cyllid ar gyfer y rhaglen hon yn ddigonol ai peidio o ystyried cyfraddau uchel gordewdra plant yng Nghymru. Yn ystod toriad yr haf, ymwelais â sefydliad a oedd yn darparu gweithgareddau ar gyfer yr Haf o Hwyl yng Nghanol De Cymru, ac roedd yn wych iawn gweld yr ystod o weithgareddau roeddent yn eu cynnig. Nid yn unig eu bod yn darparu gweithgareddau corfforol, ond gweithgareddau a oedd yn canolbwyntio ar feithrin tîm, datblygu hyder a hunanddibyniaeth hefyd. Fodd bynnag, yn ystod fy ymweliad, cefais wybod am fater pwysig yr hoffwn ofyn i'r Gweinidog ei ystyried ar gyfer y dyfodol. Bedwar diwrnod yn unig cyn dechrau y cafodd y darparwyr gweithgareddau a oedd wedi gwneud ceisiadau am gyllid i ddarparu'r Haf o Hwyl wybod eu bod wedi bod yn llwyddiannus. Golygodd hyn fod y broses o lenwi lleoedd ar gyfer gweithgareddau yn anhrefnus, ac ni roddwyd digon o amser i rai teuluoedd wneud trefniadau. Golygai fod lleoedd wedi'u dyrannu, ond ni allodd rhai o'r plant fynychu'r gweithgaredd. O'r herwydd, golygai fod y cwrs yn llawn er bod lleoedd ar gael ar y diwrnod, lleoedd y gallai teuluoedd fod wedi manteisio arnynt pe baent yn gwybod. Gofynnaf felly i'r Gweinidog ystyried amseriad y cyllid ar gyfer 2022 yn ofalus, fel y gall darparwyr gweithgareddau a theuluoedd sicrhau bod cymaint o gyfleoedd â phosibl ar gael iddynt. Diolch.
English: I thank the Member for those points, and I do think that they are well made in terms of the importance of giving local authorities adequate notice of funding that will be available to support various programmes. I share his enthusiasm, though, for what he saw in terms of the activities that took place this year in terms of the Summer of Fun. I think local authorities did a great job, alongside other partners, pulling together some fantastic schemes to ensure that children and young people had an opportunity to enjoy themselves, to meet other people, to get outdoors and do things that they hadn't been able to do for a long time. Alongside that, of course, we have our school holiday enrichment programme, which has been tremendously successful, and some local authorities also undertake different schemes that seek to address holiday hunger and support families to undertake activities during parts of the year when the children aren't at school. Obviously, I'll take on board that important comment about the timing of funding and I will be considering how we can support these kinds of projects as we move forward.
Welsh: Diolch i'r Aelod am ei bwyntiau, a chredaf eu bod wedi'u gwneud yn dda o ran pwysigrwydd rhoi rhybudd digonol i awdurdodau lleol ynglŷn â'r cyllid a fydd ar gael i gefnogi rhaglenni amrywiol. Rhannaf ei frwdfrydedd, serch hynny, ynghylch yr hyn a welodd o'r gweithgareddau a gynhaliwyd eleni yn rhan o'r Haf o Hwyl. Credaf fod awdurdodau lleol wedi gwneud gwaith gwych, ochr yn ochr â phartneriaid eraill, gan ddod â chynlluniau gwych at ei gilydd i sicrhau bod plant a phobl ifanc yn cael cyfle i fwynhau, i gyfarfod â phobl eraill, i fynd allan i'r awyr agored a gwneud pethau nad oeddent wedi gallu eu gwneud ers amser maith. Ynghyd â hynny, wrth gwrs, mae gennym ein rhaglen gwella gwyliau'r haf, sydd wedi bod yn llwyddiant ysgubol, ac mae rhai awdurdodau lleol hefyd yn cynnal gwahanol gynlluniau i geisio mynd i'r afael â llwgu yn ystod y gwyliau a chefnogi teuluoedd i ymgymryd â gweithgareddau ar adegau o'r flwyddyn pan nad yw'r plant yn yr ysgol. Yn amlwg, byddaf yn ystyried y sylw pwysig hwnnw ynglŷn ag amseriad cyllid ac yn ystyried sut y gallwn gefnogi'r mathau hyn o brosiectau yn y dyfodol.
English: Diolch, Llywydd, and good afternoon, Minister. How would you describe the current relationship that councils have with Natural Resources Wales?
Welsh: Diolch, Lywydd, a phrynhawn da, Weinidog. Sut y byddech yn disgrifio'r berthynas sydd gan gynghorau â Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru ar hyn o bryd?
English: Well, I think that the current relationship that councils have with Natural Resources Wales is very useful because they both have shared concerns in terms of ensuring that our environment and our approach to climate change is very much at the heart of both agendas - there are shared agendas there. But if my colleague has any particular concerns, I'd be happy to take them up with NRW or the Welsh Local Government Association as appropriate.
Welsh: Wel, credaf fod y berthynas sydd gan gynghorau â Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru ar hyn o bryd yn ddefnyddiol iawn gan fod y ddwy ochr yn rhannu awydd i sicrhau bod ein hamgylchedd a'n hagwedd tuag at y newid hinsawdd yn ganolog i'r ddwy agenda - mae yna agendâu y maent yn eu rhannu. Ond os oes gan fy nghyd-Aelod unrhyw bryderon penodol, rwy'n fwy na pharod i fynd i'r afael â hwy gyda CNC neu Gymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru fel sy'n briodol.
English: Thank you very much for your response, Minister. As you'll be aware, at the start of July, the leaders of Wales's 22 local authorities called on Welsh Government to review the powers and remit of the public body responsible for looking after the environment here in Wales - Natural Resources Wales. And as you'll be aware, my colleague Janet Finch-Saunders raised this issue with the Minister for Climate Change in July as well, who welcomed the feedback from the WLGA and stated that she'd be having continued discussion with the WLGA and Natural Resources Wales through you as the local government Minister. So, I hope those discussions are going well. But do you think councils have the ability to deliver some of the responsibilities that currently sit with Natural Resources Wales?
Welsh: Diolch yn fawr iawn am eich ymateb, Weinidog. Fel y gwyddoch, ddechrau mis Gorffennaf, galwodd arweinwyr 22 awdurdod lleol Cymru ar Lywodraeth Cymru i adolygu pwerau a chylch gwaith y corff cyhoeddus sy'n gyfrifol am ofalu am yr amgylchedd yma yng Nghymru - Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru. Ac fel y gwyddoch, cododd fy nghyd-Aelod, Janet Finch-Saunders, y mater hwn gyda'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd ym mis Gorffennaf hefyd, a chroesawodd y Gweinidog yr adborth gan CLlLC gan nodi y byddai'n parhau i drafod gyda CLlLC a Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru drwoch chi fel y Gweinidog llywodraeth leol. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio bod y trafodaethau hynny'n mynd yn dda. Ond a ydych yn credu bod gallu gan y cynghorau i gyflawni rhai o'r pethau y mae Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn gyfrifol amdanynt ar hyn o bryd?
English: Well, we've always said that we will look to devolve powers to the correct level of governance, and there are certainly areas where we could look to devolve further powers from Welsh Government to local authorities. But, again, if this is a particular area where there are ideas that come from the WLGA, in partnership with Natural Resources Wales, then I'd be interested in hearing those shared ideas and concerns.
Welsh: Wel, rydym bob amser wedi dweud y byddwn yn ceisio datganoli pwerau i'r lefel lywodraethu gywir, ac yn sicr, mewn rhai meysydd, gallem geisio datganoli rhagor o bwerau o Lywodraeth Cymru i awdurdodau lleol. Ond eto, os yw hwn yn faes penodol lle daw syniadau gan CLlLC mewn partneriaeth â Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, byddai gennyf ddiddordeb mewn clywed y syniadau a'r pryderon y maent yn eu rhannu.
English: Thank you for that as well, Minister. As you know, one of the issues that councils have raised within their correspondence with Welsh Government is the difficulty to hold Natural Resources Wales to account at times. In the letter from the leaders of the 22 councils I referred to, written by the leader of the WLGA, Andrew Morgan, they state in that, and I'll quote, 'when dealing with events at a local level there can still be tensions over decisions and choices that have to be made, related to wider governance issues.' And furthermore, in relation to severe flooding events seen in recent times, in Rhondda in particular, local members have stated that there's a possibility of legal action taking place against Natural Resources Wales. So, there seems to me a deficiency of democracy in holding Natural Resources Wales to account at time. And because of the democratic nature of councils, if councils held some of the functions that currently sit in Natural Resources Wales, do you think there'd be greater accountability and transparency?
Welsh: Diolch am hynny hefyd, Weinidog. Fel y gwyddoch, un o'r materion a godwyd gan y cynghorau yn eu gohebiaeth â Llywodraeth Cymru yw pa mor anodd yw dwyn Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru i gyfrif ar brydiau. Yn y llythyr gan arweinwyr y 22 cyngor y cyfeiriais ato, llythyr a ysgrifennwyd gan arweinydd CLlLC, Andrew Morgan, maent yn nodi, ac rwy'n dyfynnu, 'wrth ymdrin â digwyddiadau ar lefel leol, gall fod tensiynau o hyd ynghylch penderfyniadau a dewisiadau y mae'n rhaid eu gwneud, sy'n ymwneud â materion llywodraethu ehangach.' Ac yn ychwanegol at hynny, mewn perthynas â'r llifogydd difrifol a welwyd yn ddiweddar, yn Rhondda yn enwedig, mae aelodau lleol wedi nodi bod posibilrwydd y gellid dwyn achos cyfreithiol yn erbyn Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru. Felly, ymddengys i mi fod diffyg democratiaeth wrth ddwyn Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru i gyfrif ar brydiau. Ac oherwydd natur ddemocrataidd cynghorau, pe bai'r cynghorau'n gyfrifol am rai o'r swyddogaethau y mae Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn gyfrifol amdanynt ar hyn o bryd, a ydych yn credu y byddai mwy o atebolrwydd a thryloywder?
English: I'm aware of the letter to which you refer and the concerns around the Rhondda issue in particular, which is why I'm reluctant to go into too much more detail in terms of a response to that particular issue this afternoon. But I will endeavour to have some discussions further with the Minister for Climate Change in terms of the points that you've raised this afternoon and those concerns that the WLGA I know have raised directly with her.
Welsh: Rwy'n ymwybodol o'r llythyr y cyfeiriwch ato a'r pryderon ynghylch mater Rhondda yn benodol, a dyna pam rwy'n amharod i fanylu gormod wrth ymateb i'r mater penodol hwnnw y prynhawn yma. Ond rwyf am ymdrechu i gael trafodaethau pellach gyda'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd ar y pwyntiau a godwyd gennych y prynhawn yma a'r pryderon y gwn fod CLlLC wedi'u codi'n uniongyrchol gyda hi.
English: Thank you very much, Llywydd. We know, of course, that local authorities have suffered increasing cuts over the past decade - cuts of around 22 per cent in real terms since 2010. Now, we also hear what the implications of that are in terms of services, and in that regard, of course, most recently in terms of social care. Now, I'm sure everyone across the Chamber, and the political spectrum, would agree that there are insufficient funds in the system to meet the need, and to meet that need with the required quality. We heard the Westminster Government's response last week. Their choice is to increase national insurance, and that will, of course, impact us in Wales. One of the side effects of that, of course, is that there'll be a requirement for employers in Wales to pay an additional share of that national insurance. And I heard in a meeting today with the WLGA that the price of that for local authorities in Wales will be an additional £50 million, which they will have to find to meet that need. Now, in a situation where the public sector, of course, is already under pressure financially, I would like to ask you how you interpret what the implications of that would be for local authorities, and, more specifically, what additional support you as a Government will be providing to local authorities to meet that additional requirement?
Welsh: Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Rŷn ni'n gwybod, wrth gwrs, fod awdurdodau lleol wedi dioddef toriadau cynyddol dros y degawd diwethaf - toriadau o tua 22 y cant mewn termau real ers 2010. Nawr, rŷn ni hefyd yn clywed yn gyson beth yw goblygiadau hynny o safbwynt gwasanaethau, ac yn hynny o beth, wrth gwrs, yn fwyaf diweddar o safbwynt gofal cymdeithasol. Nawr, rwy'n siŵr y byddai pawb ar draws y Siambr yma, a'r sbectrwm gwleidyddol, yn cytuno nad oes yna ddigon o bres yn y system i gwrdd â'r angen, ac i gwrdd â'r angen hwnnw ar lefel ansawdd sy'n angenrheidiol. Mi welon ni ymateb Llywodraeth San Steffan, wrth gwrs, yr wythnos diwethaf. Eu dewis nhw yw cynyddu yswiriant gwladol, ac mi fydd hynny, wrth gwrs, yn effeithio arnom ni yng Nghymru. Un o'r sgil-effeithiau yn hynny o beth yw y bydd disgwyl i gyflogwyr yng Nghymru dalu siâr ychwanegol o'r yswiriant gwladol hwnnw. Ac mi glywais i mewn cyfarfod amser cinio heddiw gyda Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru mai'r pris ar hynny i awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru fydd £50 miliwn yn ychwanegol y mae'n nhw'n gorfod ei ffeindio i gwrdd â'r galw yna. Nawr, mewn sefyllfa lle mae'r sector cyhoeddus eisoes yn gwegian yn ariannol, bydden i'n lico gofyn i chi sut ydych chi'n dehongli beth fyddai goblygiadau hynny i awdurdodau lleol, ac, yn fwy penodol, pa gymorth ychwanegol fyddwch chi fel Llywodraeth yn ei ddarparu i awdurdodau lleol er mwyn cwrdd â'r gofyniad ychwanegol hwnnw?
English: Thank you for raising this important issue this afternoon. I think there's a great deal to be concerned about in terms of the UK Government's approach to the future funding of health and social care, not least because the measures will disproportionately impact and burden working-age people. Most pensioners, of course, will pay nothing. And this, of course, is contrary to the principle of inter-generational fairness, which is at the heart - or certainly part of the heart - of the work that the Holtham Commission undertook. In terms of what funding might become available for Welsh Government in future, we understand that the Barnett consequential arising from the recent announcements might be in the region of around £600 million a year. But what we don't know is what the impact really is in terms of the larger picture, because, of course, the Barnett consequentials give and they also take away. So, we'll have to wait until 27 October before we're able to see the full envelope for Welsh Government funding for the next three years. And it's at that point that we'll really be able to understand the impact in terms of our overall funding levels and to take those choices about support for local government. But I've already said that, in our early discussions about the budget for next year, we will continue to prioritise health and continue to look to give local government the best possible settlement.
Welsh: Diolch am godi'r mater pwysig hwn y prynhawn yma. Credaf fod llawer iawn i boeni amdano ynghylch dull Llywodraeth y DU o ariannu iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yn y dyfodol, yn anad dim gan y bydd y mesurau'n rhoi baich anghymesur ac yn effeithio'n anghymesur ar bobl o oedran gweithio. Ni fydd y rhan fwyaf o bensiynwyr, wrth gwrs, yn talu ceiniog. Ac mae hyn, wrth gwrs, yn groes i egwyddor tegwch rhwng y cenedlaethau, sydd wrth wraidd - neu sy'n sicr yn rhan ganolog - o'r gwaith a wnaed gan Gomisiwn Holtham. O ran pa gyllid a allai fod ar gael i Lywodraeth Cymru yn y dyfodol, deallwn y gallai'r swm canlyniadol Barnett sy'n deillio o'r cyhoeddiadau diweddar fod oddeutu £600 miliwn y flwyddyn. Ond yr hyn na wyddom yw beth yw'r effaith wirioneddol o ran y darlun ehangach, oherwydd wrth gwrs, mae'r symiau canlyniadol Barnett yn rhoi a hefyd yn cymryd yn ôl. Felly, bydd yn rhaid aros tan 27 Hydref cyn y gallwn weld yr amlen lawn o gyllid i Lywodraeth Cymru am y tair blynedd nesaf. A bryd hynny, bydd modd inni ddeall yr effaith ar ein lefelau cyllid cyffredinol a gwneud y dewisiadau ynglŷn â chymorth i lywodraeth leol. Ond yn ein trafodaethau cynnar ynglŷn â'r gyllideb ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf, rwyf eisoes wedi dweud y byddwn yn parhau i flaenoriaethu iechyd ac yn parhau i geisio rhoi'r setliad gorau posibl i lywodraeth leol.