English: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. As Plaid Cymru made clear in the debate on this topic before recess, Westminster's levelling-up agenda has so far meant more powers for Westminster, more money for Tory seats, and less democracy, funding and representation for Wales. We deserve better than this, and our amendments, of course, reflected that. During that debate we sought to make explicit points regarding the process behind the selection criteria for these funds, and called for detailed assessments as to the impact these funds will have on Wales. We were, of course, glad that the Government supported those amendments at the time. If these funds are not replaced in full and implemented by devolved decision makers, then Wales will be left short changed and worse off. Far from proving the strength of the union, the UK's pandemic response was in fact one huge subsidy to the south of England. The Centre for Progressive Policy has calculated that the UK Government spent £1,000 more per London resident than in Wales, and £6.9 billion more on London than if each nation and region had been allocated emergency spending equally. The Welsh Government can't let the same thing happen with these funds. Wales must get its fair share from Westminster. Turning to your statement, Minister, FSB Cymru have noted that there remains uncertainty around what budgets will look like in 2022-23, meaning that the ability to plan for the long term is hindered. Does the Minister agree that, as a matter of urgency, the UK Government should set out its detailed plan for funding and the design of these funds so that there is clarity and certainly for all stakeholders to plan for the years ahead? In terms of a timetable for the publication of an impact assessment, in response to a written question submitted over the summer asking when will the Government lay before the Senedd an impact assessment showing the effect of these funding arrangements on the distribution of funding across Wales, you answered saying that 'given the ongoing delays and uncertainties regarding this funding, it is currently not feasible to set a firm timetable on when an effective assessment of the impact of these funding arrangements can be carried out.' Of course, this position has been reiterated in the statement today. But does the Minister agree that further delays on the Westminster side of things represents yet another affront to our Welsh Parliament's ability to implement policy and funding solutions that work for Wales? My colleague Rhys ab Owen also raised with the Minister for the constitution last week the new levelling-up department in Whitehall. As he noted, the UK Government has previously said that when they consider it appropriate, they will seek advice from the Welsh Government on projects in Wales. Has the Minister had any early talks with the Secretary of State for levelling up regarding how both their departments will be working together? How confident is the Minister that this new Whitehall department will genuinely engage with Welsh Ministers? And finally, over the recess, Cardiff University raised concerns that broken promises from the UK Government on future funding could heavily impact Wales's research and innovation base. Wales's research base was critical in supporting the nation's initial response to COVID-19 and would be vital in preparations for future pandemics, a point recognised, of course, by Wales's chief medical officer. Whilst Westminster has a clear role to play, it is also imperative that Wales makes better use of its research base to tackle the damage brought by COVID-19, with help from the Welsh Government, to make best use of our expertise and infrastructure. Welsh universities, of course, are vital to the economy, generating over £5 billion and almost 50,000 jobs. The economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and post-EU agenda mean that we now need to move on the recommendations in both the Diamond and Reid reviews, sooner rather than later, in particular: to maintain quality-related research funding; to preserve academic autonomy; to increase the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales's innovation and engagement to £25 million - as it currently stands, it's at £15 million; to create a £30 million future of Wales fund, rewarding institutions that attract investment into Wales; and to establish a £35 million St David's investment fund, including innovation, competitions and hubs. The last Senedd's Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee supported the implementation of these recommendations as a matter of urgency in its legacy report. Does the Minister accept that the Welsh Government have outstanding commitments in this matter that they can resolve without the need for support from Westminster, and what actions are the Welsh Government taking to ensure that the already accepted recommendations are implemented as soon as possible?
Welsh: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Fel yr eglurodd Plaid Cymru yn y ddadl ar y pwnc hwn cyn y toriad, hyd yma mae agenda codi'r gwastad San Steffan wedi golygu mwy o bwerau i San Steffan, mwy o arian ar gyfer seddi Torïaidd, a llai o ddemocratiaeth, cyllid a chynrychiolaeth i Gymru. Rydym ni'n haeddu gwell na hyn, ac yr oedd ein gwelliannau ni, wrth gwrs, yn adlewyrchu hynny. Yn ystod y ddadl honno ceisiwyd gwneud pwyntiau penodol ynghylch y broses y tu ôl i'r meini prawf dethol ar gyfer y cronfeydd hyn, ac fe wnaethom ni alw am asesiadau manwl o'r effaith y bydd yr arian hwn yn ei chael ar Gymru. Roeddem ni, wrth gwrs, yn falch bod y Llywodraeth wedi cefnogi'r gwelliannau hynny ar y pryd. Os na fydd y cronfeydd hyn yn cael eu disodli'n llawn a'u gweithredu gan y rhai sy'n gwneud penderfyniadau datganoledig, yna bydd Cymru'n cael cam difrifol ac yn waeth ei byd. Yn hytrach na phrofi cryfder yr undeb, roedd ymateb pandemig y DU mewn gwirionedd yn un cymhorthdal enfawr i dde Lloegr. Mae'r Ganolfan Polisi Blaengar wedi cyfrifo bod Llywodraeth y DU wedi gwario £1,000 yn fwy fesul preswylydd yn Llundain nag yng Nghymru, a £6.9 biliwn yn fwy ar Lundain na phe bai gwariant brys wedi'i ddyrannu i bob gwlad a rhanbarth yn gyfartal. Ni all Llywodraeth Cymru adael i'r un peth ddigwydd gyda'r cronfeydd hyn. Mae'n rhaid i Gymru gael ei chyfran deg o San Steffan. Gan droi at eich datganiad, Gweinidog, mae Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach Cymru wedi nodi bod ansicrwydd o hyd ynghylch sut y bydd cyllidebau'n edrych yn 2022-23, sy'n golygu bod y gallu i gynllunio ar gyfer y tymor hir yn cael ei lesteirio. Ydy'r Gweinidog yn cytuno, fel mater o frys, y dylai Llywodraeth y DU nodi ei chynllun manwl ar gyfer ariannu a dyluniad yr arian hwn fel bod eglurder a sicrwydd i'r holl randdeiliaid gynllunio ar gyfer y blynyddoedd i ddod? O ran amserlen ar gyfer cyhoeddi asesiad o effaith, mewn ymateb i gwestiwn ysgrifenedig a gyflwynwyd dros yr haf yn gofyn pryd y bydd y Llywodraeth yn gosod gerbron y Senedd asesiad o effaith yn dangos effaith y trefniadau ariannu hyn ar ddosbarthu cyllid ledled Cymru, fe wnaethoch ateb yn dweud 'o ystyried yr oedi a'r ansicrwydd parhaus ynghylch y cyllid hwn, nid yw'n ymarferol ar hyn o bryd pennu amserlen gadarn ar ba bryd y gellir cynnal asesiad effeithiol o effaith y trefniadau ariannu hyn.' Wrth gwrs, ailadroddwyd y sefyllfa hon yn y datganiad heddiw. Ond a yw'r Gweinidog yn cytuno bod oedi pellach ar ochr San Steffan o bethau yn sarhad arall eto ar allu ein Senedd yng Nghymru i weithredu atebion polisi ac ariannu sy'n gweithio i Gymru? Cododd fy nghyd-Aelod Rhys ab Owen hefyd gyda Gweinidog y cyfansoddiad yr wythnos diwethaf yr adran codi'r gwastad newydd yn Whitehall. Fel y nododd, mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi dweud o'r blaen, pan fyddan nhw o'r farn ei bod yn briodol, y byddan nhw yn gofyn am gyngor gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar brosiectau yng Nghymru. Ydy'r Gweinidog wedi cael unrhyw drafodaethau cynnar gyda'r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol am godi'r gwastad ynghylch sut y bydd eu dwy adran yn cydweithio? Pa mor hyderus yw'r Gweinidog y bydd yr adran newydd hon yn Whitehall yn ymgysylltu'n wirioneddol â Gweinidogion Cymru? Ac yn olaf, dros y toriad, cododd Prifysgol Caerdydd bryderon y gallai torri addewidion gan Lywodraeth y DU ar gyllid yn y dyfodol effeithio'n drwm ar sylfaen ymchwil ac arloesi Cymru. Roedd sylfaen ymchwil Cymru yn hanfodol wrth gefnogi ymateb cychwynnol y genedl i COVID-19 a byddai'n hanfodol mewn paratoadau ar gyfer pandemigau yn y dyfodol, pwynt a gydnabyddir, wrth gwrs, gan brif swyddog meddygol Cymru. Er bod gan San Steffan rôl glir i'w chwarae, mae hefyd yn hanfodol bod Cymru'n gwneud gwell defnydd o'i sylfaen ymchwil i fynd i'r afael â'r difrod a achoswyd gan COVID-19, gyda chymorth Llywodraeth Cymru, i wneud y defnydd gorau o'n harbenigedd a'n seilwaith. Mae prifysgolion Cymru, wrth gwrs, yn hanfodol i'r economi, gan greu dros £5 biliwn a bron i 50,000 o swyddi. Mae effeithiau economaidd pandemig COVID-19 ac agenda ôl-UE yn golygu bod angen i ni symud ymlaen yn awr ar yr argymhellion yn adolygiadau Diamond a Reid, yn gynt yn hytrach nag yn ddiweddarach, yn benodol: i gynnal cyllid ymchwil sy'n gysylltiedig ag ansawdd; i gadw ymreolaeth academaidd; i gynyddu arloesedd ac ymgysylltiad Cyngor Cyllido Addysg Uwch Cymru i £25 miliwn - fel y mae ar hyn o bryd, mae'n £15 miliwn; i greu cronfa dyfodol Cymru gwerth £30 miliwn, gan wobrwyo sefydliadau sy'n denu buddsoddiad i Gymru; a sefydlu cronfa fuddsoddi Dewi Sant gwerth £35 miliwn, gan gynnwys arloesedd, cystadlaethau a chanolfannau. Roedd Pwyllgor Economi, Seilwaith a Sgiliau'r Senedd ddiwethaf yn cefnogi gweithredu'r argymhellion hyn fel mater o frys yn ei adroddiad etifeddiaeth. Ydy'r Gweinidog yn derbyn bod gan Lywodraeth Cymru ymrwymiadau rhagorol yn y mater hwn y gallan nhw eu datrys heb fod angen cymorth gan San Steffan, a pha gamau mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod yr argymhellion sydd wedi'u derbyn eisoes yn cael eu gweithredu cyn gynted â phosibl?