techiaith/cofnodycynulliad_en-cy huggingface dataset:
English: Thank you very much, Llywydd. I raised with you yesterday, Minister, the need for the Government to now use the powers that you have to protect the basic rate of income tax in Wales, in order to protect the key services that many vulnerable people will be reliant on during the difficult period ahead of us. You didn't answer my question then, but you did say, and you have consistently said, that the Conservatives' plans in Westminster are regressive and unfair. 'It embeds unfairness' were the words of the First Minister, and he is quite right, of course. But that is just as true of the cut in the basic rate too, isn't it? Because millionaires will benefit from this, and anyone who earns more than £50,000 will get at least five times more benefit from a penny off the basic rate as compared to someone who's, say, on £20,000 per annum. And most of our pensioners, and anyone who doesn't earn enough to pay income tax, the poorest in society, won't see any direct benefit from this. But, of course, they will be the first to feel the impacts of the loss of services that will come as a result of it. So, if you're not willing to commit to retaining the basic rate at 20p in Wales, will you at least confirm that you agree that using a cut in the basic rate of income tax isn't sufficiently targeted to help the most vulnerable in our society?
Welsh: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Gwnes i godi gyda chi ddoe, Gweinidog, yr angen i'r Llywodraeth ddefnyddio, nawr, y pwerau sydd gennych chi i amddiffyn y radd sylfaenol o dreth incwm yng Nghymru, er mwyn amddiffyn y gwasanaethau allweddol, wrth gwrs, y bydd nifer o bobl fregus yn dibynnu arnyn nhw yn ystod y cyfnod anodd sydd o'n blaenau ni. Wnaethoch chi ddim ateb fy nghwestiwn i bryd hynny, ond fe ddywedoch chi, ac rŷch chi wedi dweud yn gyson, fod cynlluniau'r Ceidwadwyr yn San Steffan yn regressive ac yn annheg. ' It embeds unfairness ' mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi'i ddweud, ac mae e'n iawn, wrth gwrs. Ond mae hynny yr un mor wir am y toriad yn y radd sylfaenol hefyd, onid yw e? Achos mi fydd miliynyddion ar eu hennill o hyn, ac, unrhyw un sy'n ennill mwy na £50,000, mi fyddan nhw'n cael o leiaf pum gwaith yn fwy o fudd o weld ceiniog oddi ar y radd sylfaenol na rhywun, dyweder, sydd ar £20,000 y flwyddyn. A bydd mwyafrif ein pensiynwyr ni, ac unrhyw un sydd ddim yn ennill digon i dalu treth incwm, sef y tlotaf mewn cymdeithas, fyddan nhw ddim yn gweld budd uniongyrchol o hyn. Ond, wrth gwrs, nhw fydd y cyntaf i weld ac i deimlo effaith y colli gwasanaethau a ddaw yn ei sgil e. Felly, os nad ŷch chi'n barod i ymrwymo i gadw'r radd sylfaenol o dreth incwm ar 20c yng Nghymru, a wnewch chi o leiaf gadarnhau eich bod chi'n cytuno nad yw defnyddio toriad yn y radd sylfaenol yn ffordd sydd wedi'i thargedu'n ddigonol i gynorthwyo'r rhai mwyaf anghenus a bregus mewn cymdeithas?
English: Llyr Gruffydd is right that I didn't answer his question yesterday, and I realised it immediately after I finished speaking. But I was pleased to be able to answer the same question, which was raised by his colleague the Chair of the Finance Committee during the same session. And I can only repeat what I said yesterday, in the sense that Welsh Government has an established process for dealing with setting Welsh rates of income tax. We announce our plans, we bring them to the Senedd, we debate them and we vote on them here, and that's normally done alongside our final budget. So, I'm not in a position to say anything more today. Obviously, there will be discussions and considerations to be had in advance of that, but, certainly, this will be something that we come to as a Senedd to debate and vote on in due course. But I don't think that the announcement by the UK Government on Friday necessitates an early decision on the part of the Welsh Government, although I do appreciate the points that have been made.
Welsh: Mae Llyr Gruffydd yn llygad ei le nad atebais ei gwestiwn ddoe, a sylweddolais hynny'n syth ar ôl imi orffen siarad. Ond roeddwn yn falch o allu ateb yr un cwestiwn, a godwyd gan ei gyd-Aelod, Cadeirydd y Pwyllgor Cyllid, yn yr un sesiwn. Ac ni allaf ond ailadrodd yr hyn a ddywedais ddoe, yn yr ystyr fod gan Lywodraeth Cymru broses sefydledig ar gyfer ymdrin â'r gwaith o osod cyfraddau treth incwm Cymru. Rydym yn cyhoeddi ein cynlluniau, rydym yn dod â hwy i'r Senedd, rydym yn eu dadlau ac rydym yn pleidleisio arnynt yma, ac mae hynny fel arfer yn digwydd ochr yn ochr â'n cyllideb derfynol. Felly, nid wyf mewn sefyllfa i ddweud rhagor heddiw. Yn amlwg, bydd ystyriaethau a thrafodaethau i'w cael cyn hynny, ond yn sicr, bydd hyn yn rhywbeth y byddwn yn ei drafod ac yn pleidleisio arno fel Senedd maes o law. Ond ni chredaf fod y cyhoeddiad gan Lywodraeth y DU ddydd Gwener yn golygu bod rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru wneud penderfyniad cynnar, er fy mod yn deall y pwyntiau a wnaed.
English: Well, surely you will have considered this issue. The cut in the basic rate was going to happen from 2024 under Rishi Sunak's proposals, of course. So, hadn't you already started to consider or assess whether the time had come to use your powers in terms of Welsh income tax rates? Has there been any modelling done or is modelling happening to inform that debate? Because, on the one hand, you're constantly complaining of the shortage of funding to maintain services - and you've done that again earlier this afternoon - but, on the other hand, you appear reticent not to increase the tax in this context but to keep it at its current level, something that would produce some £200 million to help safeguard health, care and education services in Wales from the cuts that you're complaining about. Isn't there a major contradiction that you're reticent on the one hand to look in earnest at the tax levels in Wales within the powers that you hold, whilst you're also complaining that there isn't enough money in the coffers?
Welsh: Wel, does bosib eich bod chi wedi pwyso a mesur rhywfaint ar y mater yma. Roedd gradd sylfaenol, neu doriad yn y gradd sylfaenol, yn mynd i ddigwydd o 2024 o dan gynlluniau Rishi Sunak, wrth gwrs. Felly, onid oeddech chi eisoes wedi dechrau ystyried neu asesu a oedd yr amser wedi dod i ddefnyddio'ch pwerau chi o ran graddfeydd treth incwm Cymreig? Oes yna fodelu wedi, neu yn, neu ar fin digwydd i hysbysu'r drafodaeth honno? Oherwydd, ar un llaw, rŷch chi'n cwyno'n barhaol am y diffyg mewn cyllid i gynnal gwasanaethau - rŷch chi wedi gwneud hynny eto yn gynharach y prynhawn yma - ond, ar y llaw arall, mae'n ymddangos eich bod chi'n gyndyn nid i godi'r treth yn y sefyllfa yma, ond i gadw'r treth ar ei lefel bresennol, rhywbeth fyddai, wrth gwrs, yn cynhyrchu dros £200 miliwn i helpu amddiffyn gwasanaethau iechyd, gofal, addysg yng Nghymru rhag y toriadau rŷch chi'n cwyno amdanyn nhw. Onid oes yna wrth-ddweud mawr eich bod chi'n gyndyn ar un llaw i edrych o ddifrif ar lefel y dreth yng Nghymru o fewn y pwerau sydd gennych chi, tra, ar y llaw arall, yn cwyno does yna ddim digon o bres yn y coffrau?
English: Well, we consider all of our tax levers at all points across the rates and bands that we're able to set in Welsh rates of income tax, land transaction tax and landfill disposals tax, whilst also looking at the local taxes that we have here in Wales as well. So, all of these things are constantly under review. Of course we do the modelling to understand what the impact would be of different choices. There was a really important piece of work undertaken by the Finance Committee previously that looked at the implications of raising what was at the time the additional rate, and that, I think, was quite helpful in terms of getting to grips with what is a very new thing for us, of course. We've only had Welsh rates of income tax here in Wales since 2019, and we're starting to understand what the options might be for the future. Of course, we consider all of these things at all times, but what I'm not going to do is make any announcements outside of our normal budget process.
Welsh: Wel, rydym yn ystyried ein holl ysgogiadau treth ar bob pwynt ar draws y cyfraddau a'r bandiau y gallwn eu pennu yng nghyfraddau treth incwm, treth trafodiadau tir a threth gwarediadau tirlenwi Cymru, wrth edrych hefyd ar y trethi lleol sydd gennym yma yng Nghymru. Felly, mae'r holl bethau hyn yn cael eu hadolygu'n gyson. Wrth gwrs, rydym yn gwneud y gwaith modelu i ddeall beth fyddai effaith gwahanol ddewisiadau. Gwnaeth y Pwyllgor Cyllid waith pwysig iawn yn flaenorol a edrychai ar oblygiadau codi'r gyfradd ychwanegol ar y pryd, a chredaf fod hynny'n eithaf defnyddiol ar gyfer mynd i'r afael â'r hyn sy'n rhywbeth newydd iawn i ni, wrth gwrs. Dim ond ers 2019 y bu gennym gyfraddau treth incwm Cymreig yma yng Nghymru, ac rydym yn dechrau deall beth y gallai'r opsiynau fod ar gyfer y dyfodol. Wrth gwrs, rydym yn ystyried yr holl bethau hyn bob amser, ond yr hyn nad wyf am ei wneud yw gwneud unrhyw gyhoeddiadau y tu allan i'n proses gyllidebol arferol.
English: Yes. The provision of adequate childcare support is one of our key policies to support families. The most recent final budget included increases of £100 million to cover the capital and revenue programmes for both childcare and Flying Start for the current three-year budget period.
Welsh: Iawn. Mae darpariaeth cymorth gofal plant digonol yn un o'n polisïau allweddol i gefnogi teuluoedd. Roedd y gyllideb derfynol ddiweddaraf yn cynnwys cynnydd o £100 miliwn i dalu am raglenni cyfalaf a refeniw gofal plant a Dechrau'n Deg ar gyfer y cyfnod cyllideb tair blynedd presennol.
English: Thank you very much for your response, Minister. We all know how important childcare is to families, particularly families struggling at the moment, and how important it is for our parents and our carers to get back to work. So, I just wondered if you might consider extending the provision of childcare so that all children aged nine months and over could receive that free childcare. Thank you - diolch yn fawr iawn.
Welsh: Diolch yn fawr iawn am eich ymateb, Weinidog. Gŵyr pob un ohonom pa mor bwysig yw gofal plant i deuluoedd, yn enwedig teuluoedd sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd ar hyn o bryd, a pha mor bwysig yw hi i'n rhieni a'n gofalwyr ddychwelyd i'r gwaith. Felly, tybed a wnewch chi ystyried ymestyn y ddarpariaeth gofal plant fel bod pob plentyn naw mis oed a hŷn yn gallu cael gofal plant am ddim. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
English: Llywydd, I'll ask my colleague, the Minister with responsibility for childcare and the provision of childcare, to perhaps provide a written answer to that, because those are not discussions I've had directly with the Minister, and I think that would be a policy choice for her to make. So, apologies that I can't give a more detailed answer.
Welsh: Lywydd, fe ofynnaf i fy nghyd-Aelod, y Gweinidog sydd â chyfrifoldeb dros ofal plant a darparu gofal plant, roi ateb ysgrifenedig i'r cwestiwn hwn efallai, gan nad yw'r rheini'n drafodaethau rwyf wedi'u cael yn uniongyrchol gyda'r Gweinidog, a chredaf y byddai hynny'n ddewis polisi iddi hi ei wneud. Felly, ymddiheuriadau na allaf roi ateb manylach.
English: My priorities are set out in our programme for government and our 2022-23 budget; preparations for the 2023-24 budget are currently under way. Despite the challenging fiscal context, we will ensure our spending priorities have the greatest possible impact for a stronger, fairer and greener Wales.
Welsh: Mae fy mlaenoriaethau wedi'u nodi yn ein rhaglen lywodraethu a'n cyllideb ar gyfer 2022-23; mae paratoadau ar gyfer cyllideb 2023-24 yn mynd rhagddynt ar hyn o bryd. Er gwaethaf y cyd-destun cyllidol heriol, byddwn yn gwneud yn siŵr fod ein blaenoriaethau gwariant yn cael cymaint o effaith â phosibl er mwyn sicrhau Cymru gryfach, decach a gwyrddach.
English: Thank you for that response, Minister. Now, in the foreword of the Welsh Government's infrastructure investment strategy, you said that 'It is essential that the role which infrastructure plays is maximised, and that we have the infrastructure in place to support the Wales we want to hand on to future generations.' And I very much agree with that statement. Now, one infrastructure project that I have been campaigning for for several years now is a footbridge on the A487 through lower town Fishguard, and yet little progress has been made, despite continued commitments from successive Welsh Government Ministers to look at the issue. Minister, it's vital that pedestrian safety is a priority for this Government, so can you tell us what discussions you've had with the Deputy Minister for Climate Change about these types of projects, and, given your comments in the infrastructure investment strategy, will you confirm that funding will be made available so that pedestrian safety schemes like this are able to go ahead in the future?
Welsh: Diolch am eich ymateb, Weinidog. Nawr, yn rhagair strategaeth Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer buddsoddi yn seilwaith Cymru, fe ddywedoch ei bod yn 'hanfodol manteisio i'r eithaf ar y rhan mae seilwaith yn ei chwarae, a bod gennym y seilwaith i gefnogi'r Gymru mae arnom eisiau ei throsglwyddo i genedlaethau'r dyfodol.' Ac rwy'n cytuno'n gryf â'r datganiad hwnnw. Nawr, un prosiect seilwaith y bûm yn ymgyrchu drosto ers sawl blwyddyn bellach yw pont droed ar yr A487 drwy Gwm Abergwaun, ond ychydig o gynnydd a wnaed, er gwaethaf ymrwymiadau parhaus gan Weinidogion olynol Llywodraeth Cymru i edrych ar y mater. Weinidog, mae'n hanfodol fod diogelwch cerddwyr yn flaenoriaeth i'r Llywodraeth hon, felly a wnewch chi ddweud wrthym pa drafodaethau a gawsoch gyda'r Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd am y mathau hyn o brosiectau, ac o ystyried eich sylwadau yn y strategaeth buddsoddi yn y seilwaith, a wnewch chi gadarnhau y bydd cyllid ar gael fel bod cynlluniau diogelwch cerddwyr fel hyn yn gallu mynd rhagddynt yn y dyfodol?
English: I'm grateful for the question and I'll certainly discuss the specific case that you raise with the Deputy Minister for Climate Change, but pedestrian safety and Safe Routes in Communities schemes are clearly important to us, as are our active travel schemes, which, of course, support pedestrians and cyclists and other users as well. So, you'll have seen our investment in active travel in particular has increased very much over recent years, and it's something that we continue to be very much committed to. We are disappointed overall at the level of capital funding that we have available to us. It does fall in each of the three years of the spending review period. I was very sorry not to see additional capital funding announced at the mini budget last week; that would have been an opportunity, really, to inject some infrastructure investment into our communities. But it's something that we continue to call for. But I will discuss the particular case whilst we continue to make the case for additional capital funding.
Welsh: Rwy'n ddiolchgar am eich cwestiwn, ac yn sicr, byddaf yn trafod yr achos penodol a godwch gyda'r Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd, ond mae diogelwch cerddwyr a chynlluniau Llwybrau Diogel mewn Cymunedau yn amlwg yn bwysig i ni, ynghyd â'n cynlluniau teithio llesol, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn cefnogi cerddwyr a beicwyr a defnyddwyr eraill hefyd. Felly, byddwch wedi gweld bod ein buddsoddiad mewn teithio llesol yn arbennig wedi cynyddu'n fawr iawn dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, ac mae'n rhywbeth yr ydym yn parhau i fod yn ymrwymedig iawn iddo. Rydym yn siomedig ar y cyfan gyda lefel y cyllid cyfalaf sydd ar gael i ni. Mae'n cwympo ym mhob un o dair blynedd cyfnod yr adolygiad o wariant. Roeddwn yn siomedig iawn na chyhoeddwyd cyllid cyfalaf ychwanegol yn y gyllideb fach yr wythnos diwethaf; byddai hynny wedi bod yn gyfle gwirioneddol i chwistrellu buddsoddiad i seilwaith ein cymunedau. Ond mae'n rhywbeth yr ydym yn parhau i alw amdano. Ond byddaf yn trafod yr achos penodol hwn wrth inni barhau i ddadlau'r achos dros gyllid cyfalaf ychwanegol.
English: The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 put in place a new performance regime to drive improvement in local authorities across Wales. Alongside this I have agreed £800,000 funding for the Welsh Local Government Association improvement programme to support corporate improvement within councils.
Welsh: Mae Deddf Llywodraeth Leol ac Etholiadau (Cymru) 2021 wedi sefydlu gweithdrefn berfformio newydd i ysgogi gwelliant mewn awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru. Ochr yn ochr â hyn, rwyf wedi cytuno i ddarparu cyllid o £800,000 ar gyfer rhaglen wella Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru i gefnogi gwelliant corfforaethol o fewn cynghorau.
English: Thank you for your initial response, Minister. As I'm sure you'll recognise, councils are often at the front line with many pressures that communities are currently facing, which, of course, have a knock-on effect to pressures within councils. I'm sure you would have taken note of the BBC article over the weekend, where the WLGA and council leaders were highlighting some of the pressures that they're facing. Now, some of these, of course, are financial, but some of these pressures also present themselves in other ways, whether it be through difficulties around recruitment at times or around housing pressures - we're seeing a significant increase in demand in those areas. But all of this is whilst local authorities are having to deal with a new legislative programme, often causing more pressure and demand on officer time. And I'm sure, Minister, you would agree that there needs to be a clear balance between need and capacities for local authorities to deliver, and I know there is some concern within local authorities that the amount of new legislation that they're having to deliver is causing significant pressure in them delivering their vital services. So, in light of this, Minister, is there any immediate action that you'll be taking within the legislative programme to make sure our councils do have the capacity to deliver the services that we all rely on?
Welsh: Diolch am eich ymateb cychwynnol, Weinidog. Fel rwy'n siŵr y byddwch yn ei gydnabod, mae cynghorau'n aml ar y rheng flaen gyda'r gwahanol fathau o bwysau y mae cymunedau'n eu hwynebu ar hyn o bryd, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn cael effaith ganlyniadol ar bwysau o fewn cynghorau. Rwy'n siŵr eich bod wedi nodi erthygl y BBC dros y penwythnos, lle'r oedd Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru ac arweinwyr cynghorau'n tynnu sylw at rai o'r problemau sy'n eu hwynebu. Nawr, mae rhai o'r rhain, wrth gwrs, yn ariannol, ond mae peth o'r pwysau i'w deimlo mewn ffyrdd eraill hefyd, boed drwy anawsterau gyda recriwtio ar adegau neu bwysau'n ymwneud â thai - rydym yn gweld cynnydd sylweddol yn y galw yn y meysydd hynny. Ond mae hyn oll tra bod awdurdodau lleol yn gorfod ymdrin â rhaglen ddeddfwriaethol newydd, gan achosi mwy o bwysau'n aml a mwy o alw am amser swyddogion. Weinidog, rwy'n siŵr y byddech yn cytuno bod angen cydbwysedd clir rhwng angen a chapasiti i awdurdodau lleol allu cyflawni, ac rwy'n gwybod bod pryder o fewn awdurdodau lleol fod faint o ddeddfwriaeth newydd sy'n rhaid iddynt ei chyflawni yn rhoi pwysau sylweddol arnynt wrth iddynt geisio darparu eu gwasanaethau hanfodol. Felly, yng ngoleuni hyn, Weinidog, a oes unrhyw gamau uniongyrchol y byddwch yn eu cymryd o fewn y rhaglen ddeddfwriaethol i wneud yn siŵr fod capasiti gan ein cynghorau i ddarparu'r gwasanaethau y mae pawb ohonom yn dibynnu arnynt?
English: One of the commitments in our programme for government is to reduce the administrative burden on local authorities, so we've already started that piece of work by approaching all local authorities, both leaders, chief executives and those within the Society of Welsh Treasurers and others in order to understand what they see as the particular administrative burden. So, we'll be looking forward to the report, which I understand is due - . It will probably be a couple of months at least off yet, but when that's forthcoming, it will help us pinpoint those areas where we can make some pragmatic and practical changes to help reduce that administrative burden. We have provided local authorities with some funding to help with the establishment of the corporate joint committees - I think it was £100,000 per CJC - in order to help with some of those costs, in terms of implementing that piece of legislation. But, again, if there are particular areas of concern where there might be ways in which Welsh Government can support local authorities, perhaps through providing expertise or finding a way that things are only done once, obviously I'd be keen to understand what those specific problems are and we can have a look at what we can do to help.
Welsh: Un o'r ymrwymiadau yn ein rhaglen lywodraethu yw lleihau'r baich gweinyddol ar awdurdodau lleol, felly rydym eisoes wedi dechrau ar y gwaith hwnnw drwy gysylltu â'r awdurdodau lleol, arweinwyr, prif weithredwyr a rhai o fewn Cymdeithas Trysoryddion Cymru ac eraill er mwyn deall yr hyn y maent yn ei ystyried yn faich gweinyddol penodol. Felly, byddwn yn edrych ymlaen at yr adroddiad, ac rwy'n deall fod disgwyl iddo gael ei gyhoeddi - . Mae'n debyg y bydd yn cymryd mis neu ddau o leiaf, ond pan ddaw, bydd yn ein helpu i nodi'r meysydd lle gallwn wneud newidiadau pragmataidd ac ymarferol i helpu i leihau'r baich gweinyddol hwnnw. Rydym wedi rhoi rhywfaint o arian i awdurdodau lleol i helpu gyda'r gwaith o sefydlu'r cyd-bwyllgorau corfforedig - £100,000 i bob cyd-bwyllgor corfforedig rwy'n credu - er mwyn helpu gyda rhai o'r costau hynny a gweithredu'r ddeddfwriaeth honno. Ond unwaith eto, os oes meysydd penodol o bryder lle gallai fod ffyrdd i Lywodraeth Cymru gefnogi awdurdodau lleol, efallai drwy ddarparu arbenigedd neu ddod o hyd i ffordd o sicrhau mai dim ond unwaith y caiff pethau eu gwneud, yn amlwg byddwn yn awyddus i ddeall beth yw'r problemau penodol hynny a gallwn edrych i weld beth y gallwn ei wneud i helpu.
English: Minister, around £45 billion of tax reductions for people and businesses by 2027 could have paid for public sector increases of 19 per cent, improving services, filling vacancies, and growing the economy here in Wales where nearly a third of people are employed in the public sector. Minister, the mini budget from the UK Government does little to help the public sector, including councils, cope with inflationary pressures and workforce recruitment to deliver local services where they are needed more than ever now. Minister, what plans do you have to help with recruitment and these pressures that local government are facing, so that they can continue to work in partnership with Welsh Government? Thank you.
Welsh: Weinidog, gallai tua £45 biliwn o ostyngiadau treth i bobl a busnesau erbyn 2027 fod wedi talu am gynnydd o 19 y cant yn y sector cyhoeddus, ar wella gwasanaethau, llenwi swyddi gwag a thyfu'r economi yma yng Nghymru lle mae bron i draean y bobl yn cael eu cyflogi yn y sector cyhoeddus. Weinidog, nid yw'r gyllideb fach gan Lywodraeth y DU yn gwneud fawr ddim i helpu'r sector cyhoeddus, gan gynnwys cynghorau, i ymdopi â phwysau chwyddiant a recriwtio gweithlu i ddarparu gwasanaethau lleol lle mae eu hangen yn fwy nag erioed yn awr. Weinidog, pa gynlluniau sydd gennych i helpu gyda recriwtio a'r pwysau y mae llywodraeth leol yn ei wynebu, fel y gallant barhau i weithio mewn partneriaeth â Llywodraeth Cymru? Diolch.