English: Thank you, Minister, for today's statement, it's a very important update. Without a shadow of a doubt, it demonstrates the value of co-operation between our parties when we can achieve a policy of this kind in just a few months, and make an immediate difference to the pupils in receipt of free school meals and their families. Achieving this was a priority for us as a group and a party in our manifesto for the Senedd elections in 2021. And when discussions on co-operation began, we were determined to see this policy at the heart of the discussions, and it's good to see that the policy isn't just a paper exercise, but is now being actioned. After all, providing free school meals is one of the most important steps that we can take to tackle child poverty and hunger in Wales, by ensuring that children receive a nutritious meal free of charge as part of the school day, and that this should be extended, as you've mentioned, to include the holidays too. While the new UK Prime Minister continues to prioritise putting more money in the pockets of big business and the wealthiest in society, it shows clearly that our priorities are different in this Senedd and that we are ready to co-operate here to tackle the crisis. This policy could make the difference between a child going to bed hungry or not. That is how important it is. And today, I'd like to express my heartfelt thanks to those working in local authorities across Wales, as the Minister did, namely the catering staff, those who distribute and co-ordinate this provision, and recognise how important it is that we get this right for our children. Free school meals are a step towards improving people's lives and making our communities fairer and more equal. For us, as a party, this is a first step towards provision for all age groups, and, even though the agreement covers only free school meals in primary schools, we continue to be of the opinion that this should also be extended to secondary schools. This is something that we will continue to prioritise until we have comprehensive national provision that extends to secondary schools. Despite the good news that the provision of free school meals has now begun, as you've mentioned, there are some councils that haven't quite reached the target, such as Cardiff and Swansea; they've fallen behind. So, what additional support will be provided to those councils? Laura Anne Jones has also mentioned, of course, and you've responded in terms of nutritious food, and it's good to see the emphasis that you have placed in the statement and your response on nutritious food. Could we have further updates so that we can understand what the benchmark is across Wales at the moment - you say that you you've talked about procurement and so on - so that we can monitor progress on that particular issue? Because it is vitally important in terms of local economies as well to ensure that there is more distribution and production of local food as part of our climate crisis agenda and so on, not to mention local growth of food and supporting local businesses. That is very important. And finally, I'd like to ask what work is being done to review the eligibility framework for free school meals to cover a wider range of children and young people? As the Welsh Government's child poverty review found, not all of those who need free school meals receive them. Is it not vital that we broaden the eligibility criteria for free school meals as a matter of urgency, as a result of the cost-of-living crisis? Thank you.
Welsh: Diolch, Weinidog, am y datganiad heddiw, mae o'n ddiweddariad pwysig dros ben. Heb os, dyma ddangos gwerth cydweithio rhwng ein pleidiau pan y gallwn gyflawni polisi o'r fath mewn ychydig fisoedd, a gwneud gwahaniaeth yn syth i ddisgyblion sydd yn eu derbyn a'u teuluoedd. Roedd cyflawni hyn yn flaenoriaeth i ni fel grŵp ac fel plaid yn ein maniffesto ar gyfer etholiadau'r Senedd yn 2021. Pan ddechreuwyd trafod cytundeb cydweithio, roeddem ni'n benderfynol bod hwn yn gorfod bod yn ganolog i hynny, a da yw gweld bod y polisi nid dim ond ar bapur, ond ar waith. Wedi'r cyfan, mae darparu prydau ysgol am ddim yn un o'r camau pwysicaf y gallwn eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant a newyn yng Nghymru, drwy wneud yn siŵr bod plant yn cael pryd maethlon ac am ddim fel rhan o'r diwrnod ysgol, ac ymestyn, fel rydych chi wedi sôn heddiw, am gyfnod arall i gynnwys y gwyliau hefyd. Tra bod Prif Weinidog newydd y Deyrnas Unedig yn parhau i flaenoriaethu rhoi mwy o arian ym mhocedi busnesau mawr a'r rhai cyfoethocaf, mae'n dangos yn glir bod ein blaenoriaethau ni'n wahanol yn y Senedd hon a'n bod ni'n barod i gydweithio yma i fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng. Gallai'r polisi hwn wneud y gwahaniaeth rhwng plentyn yn mynd i'r gwely yn llwglyd neu beidio. Dyna pa mor bwysig ydy o. A hoffwn heddiw ddiolch o galon i'r rhai sy'n gweithio o fewn awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru, fel y gwnaeth y Gweinidog, sef y staff arlwyo, y rhai sy'n dosbarthu ac yn cydlynu'r cyflwyno, a chydnabod pa mor bwysig yw hi inni gael hyn yn iawn i'n plant. Mae prydau ysgol am ddim yn gam tuag at wella bywydau pobl a gwneud ein cymunedau yn decach ac yn fwy cyfartal. Ac i ni fel plaid, cam cyntaf tuag at eu cyflwyno i bob oed yw hyn, ac, er mai dim ond prydau ysgol am ddim mewn ysgolion cynradd sydd yn y cytundeb, parhawn o'r farn y dylid hefyd ymestyn hwn i ysgolion uwchradd. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth y byddwn yn parhau i'w flaenoriaethu hyd nes y cawn arlwy cenedlaethol cynhwysfawr sy'n ymestyn i ysgolion uwchradd. Er y newydd da bod cyflwyno cinio ysgol am ddim wedi dechrau, fel rydych chi wedi sôn, mae yna dal rhai cynghorau sydd ddim cweit wedi cyrraedd y nod, megis Caerdydd ac Abertawe, sydd ar ei hôl hi. Felly, pa gefnogaeth ychwanegol fydd yna yn cael ei rhoi iddyn nhw? Mae Laura Anne Jones hefyd wedi sôn, wrth gwrs, a rydych chi wedi ymateb o ran bwyd maethlon, a da gweld y pwyslais rydych chi'n ei roi o ran y datganiad ac yn eich ymateb ar hynny. Fydd modd cael diweddariad pellach fel ein bod ni'n deall beth ydy'r benchmark hynny ledled Cymru ar y funud o ran - rydych chi'n dweud eich bod chi wedi sôn am y caffael ac ati - inni allu monitro cynnydd o ran mynd rhagddo efo hynny? Oherwydd, yn amlwg, mae hi'n allweddol bwysig o ran economi lleol hefyd o ran sicrhau bod mwy o ddosbarthu a chynhyrchu bwyd lleol yn rhan o hyn, yn rhan o'n hagenda argyfwng hinsawdd ni hefyd, heb sôn am dyfu yn lleol a chefnogi busnesau lleol. Mae hynny'n bwysig iawn. Ac yn olaf, hoffwn holi pa waith sydd yn mynd rhagddo o ran adolygu'r fframwaith cymhwysedd ar gyfer prydau ysgol am ddim i ystod ehangach o blant a phobl ifanc. Fel y canfu adolygiad tlodi plant Llywodraeth Cymru, nid yw pawb sydd angen prydau ysgol am ddim yn eu derbyn. Onid yw'n hanfodol ein bod yn ymestyn y meini prawf cymhwysedd ar gyfer prydau ysgol am ddim, a hynny ar fyrder, yn sgil yr argyfwng costau byw? Diolch.