English: So much of the economic reality of the Valleys these past 40 years has been the result of the deliberate destruction of the coal and associated industries by Thatcher's Government. That betrayal was like an earthquake and it's given way to many aftershocks. Our community spirit has never dimmed, but our unemployment levels remain stubbornly high and our health outcomes carry the scars of decades of underinvestment. Generation after generation has paid the price of what Thatcher took away. The latest blow has been the disproportionately harsh impact that COVID-19 is wreaking. The virus has been cruel and relentless in communities across Wales, but in post-industrial areas where housing is close together and employment is so precarious that some can't afford to self-isolate, the virus has been able to spread at a shocking pace. Merthyr has had the highest number of cases per head of population in Wales. I'm glad that, today, the Welsh Government has confirmed that mass testing will be made available for residents of the area, regardless of whether they have symptoms. It's about time. But we need to build on that and provide the extra support that our motion is calling for, so that people living in our communities receive care, not just a diagnosis. When areas in Wales entered local lockdowns, Caerphilly was first, closely followed by the Rhondda, Merthyr, Blaenau Gwent and Newport, later Torfaen. What do these areas have in common? Well, Llywydd, they are areas with older populations, with more terraced streets, and where family ties are still strong. Our connectedness has had a cruel impact, and, again, we've suffered because of poor planning and decades of underinvestment. I know that communities across Wales have suffered, and, clearly, the additional support that's needed for high-prevalence areas should be available everywhere that is required. But they are underlying reasons why the areas I've referred to have been hit particularly harshly, and we have to put that right. A report by the Welsh Government's own technical advice cell on health inequalities found the pandemic has compounded existing health inequalities, and that these underlying issues stem from low income, poor housing and insecure employment. How many times do we have to listen to the same findings from yet another report before someone listens and gives our communities what they need? That is why we are calling for this greater support. We want to see accommodation for people who can't self-isolate at home, help for safe and affordable childcare, and protections for schools, like the introduction of mask wearing in classrooms. We need investment to overcome the digital divide to make it easier for people to keep in touch when they can't see one another face to face. And I'd add to that the need for mental health support to help communities with the collective trauma that they're suffering. Many of our proposals could be implemented Wales wide, such as increasing the self-isolation grant for people on low incomes to £800, to provide more childcare and support for people who can't work from home. These steps would help individuals and families all over Wales, but they are especially needed where the virus has been so prevalent. Getting the confidence of the public is paramount, which is why we want stronger communication campaigns. When Caerphilly entered a local lockdown, no official guidance was given to residents on what to expect for more than 24 hours, leaving people feeling insecure and anxious. We have to learn the lessons of that lockdown. But we also need to understand more about what behaviours facilitate the spread of the virus. It would surely be beneficial for the Government to commission research in this area, because, if some of these behaviours were highlighted, then communities would know what steps to take to protect themselves. Llywydd, there is hope on the horizon, with promising initial results from two vaccines. But we face difficult dark months in the coming winter, and the Welsh Government needs to plan in a way that is strategic and targets support where it's most needed. These remarkable communities need support. They've been crying out for that support for decades. Maybe now this Government can finally redress the inequalities that have plagued our streets and address all those aftershocks that have echoed down the decades since the mines closed. If not now, then when?
Welsh: Mae cymaint o realiti economaidd y Cymoedd yn ystod y 40 mlynedd diwethaf wedi deillio o ddinistrio'r diwydiannau glo a'r diwydiannau cysylltiedig yn fwriadol gan Lywodraeth Thatcher. Roedd y brad hwnnw fel daeargryn ac mae wedi arwain at sawl ôl-gryniad. Nid yw ein hysbryd cymunedol erioed wedi pylu, ond mae ein lefelau diweithdra'n dal yn ystyfnig o uchel ac mae ein canlyniadau iechyd yn cario creithiau degawdau o danfuddsoddi. Mae cenhedlaeth ar ôl cenhedlaeth wedi talu'r pris am yr hyn a gymerodd Thatcher oddi wrthynt. Yr ergyd ddiweddaraf yw'r effaith anghymesur o galed y mae COVID-19 yn ei chreu. Mae'r feirws wedi bod yn greulon ac yn ddi-baid mewn cymunedau ledled Cymru, ond mewn ardaloedd ôl-ddiwydiannol lle mae tai'n agos at ei gilydd a chyflogaeth mor ansicr fel na all rhai fforddio hunanynysu, mae'r feirws wedi gallu lledaenu'n frawychus o gyflym. Merthyr Tudful sydd â'r nifer uchaf o achosion y pen o'r boblogaeth yng Nghymru. Rwy'n falch fod Llywodraeth Cymru, heddiw, wedi cadarnhau y bydd profion torfol ar gael i drigolion yr ardal, p'un a oes ganddynt symptomau ai peidio. Mae'n hen bryd. Ond mae angen inni adeiladu ar hynny a darparu'r cymorth ychwanegol y mae ein cynnig yn galw amdano, fel bod pobl sy'n byw yn ein cymunedau yn cael gofal, nid diagnosis yn unig. Pan osodwyd cyfyngiadau lleol ar ardaloedd yng Nghymru, Caerffili oedd y gyntaf, ac yna'r Rhondda, Merthyr Tudful, Blaenau Gwent a Chasnewydd, a Thorfaen yn ddiweddarach. Beth sydd gan yr ardaloedd hyn yn gyffredin? Wel, Lywydd, maent yn ardaloedd sydd â phoblogaethau hŷn, gyda strydoedd teras, a lle mae cysylltiadau teuluol yn dal yn gryf. Mae ein cysylltedd wedi cael effaith greulon, ac unwaith eto, rydym wedi dioddef oherwydd cynllunio gwael a degawdau o danfuddsoddi. Gwn fod cymunedau ledled Cymru wedi dioddef, ac yn amlwg, dylai'r cymorth ychwanegol sydd ei angen ar gyfer ardaloedd lle ceir llawer o achosion fod ar gael ym mhobman y mae ei angen. Ond ceir rhesymau sylfaenol pam y mae'r ardaloedd y cyfeiriais atynt wedi cael eu taro'n arbennig o galed, ac mae'n rhaid i ni unioni hynny. Canfu adroddiad gan gell cyngor technegol Llywodraeth Cymru ar anghydraddoldebau iechyd fod y pandemig wedi dwysáu anghydraddoldebau iechyd a oedd eisoes yn bodoli, a bod y materion sylfaenol hyn yn deillio o incwm isel, tai gwael a chyflogaeth ansicr. Sawl gwaith y mae'n rhaid inni wrando ar yr un canfyddiadau o adroddiad arall eto fyth cyn i rywun wrando a rhoi'r hyn y maent ei angen i'n cymunedau? Dyna pam y galwn am y gefnogaeth ehangach hon. Rydym am weld llety i bobl nad ydynt yn gallu hunanynysu gartref, cymorth ar gyfer gofal plant diogel a fforddiadwy, a mesurau diogelwch i ysgolion, fel cyflwyno gwisgo masgiau mewn ystafelloedd dosbarth. Mae angen buddsoddiad arnom i oresgyn y gagendor digidol i'w gwneud yn haws i bobl gadw mewn cysylltiad pan na allant weld ei gilydd wyneb yn wyneb. A byddwn yn ychwanegu at hynny yr angen am gymorth iechyd meddwl i helpu cymunedau gyda'r trawma cyfunol y maent yn ei ddioddef. Gellid gweithredu llawer o'n cynigion ledled Cymru, megis cynyddu'r grant hunanynysu i bobl ar incwm isel i £800 er mwyn darparu mwy o ofal plant a chymorth i bobl na allant weithio gartref. Byddai'r camau hyn yn helpu unigolion a theuluoedd ledled Cymru, ond mae eu hangen yn arbennig lle gwelwyd y lefel uchaf o achosion o'r feirws. Mae ennyn hyder y cyhoedd yn hollbwysig, a dyna pam ein bod am gael ymgyrchoedd cyfathrebu cryfach. Pan osodwyd cyfyngiadau lleol yng Nghaerffili, ni roddwyd unrhyw ganllawiau swyddogol i breswylwyr ar yr hyn y dylent ei ddisgwyl am fwy na 24 awr, gan adael pobl yn teimlo'n ansicr ac yn bryderus. Rhaid inni ddysgu gwersi o'r cyfyngiadau hynny. Ond mae angen i ni ddeall mwy hefyd am y patrymau ymddygiad sy'n hwyluso lledaeniad y feirws. Byddai'n sicr yn fuddiol i'r Llywodraeth gomisiynu ymchwil yn y maes hwn, oherwydd pe tynnid sylw at rai o'r patrymau ymddygiad hyn, byddai cymunedau'n gwybod pa gamau i'w cymryd i ddiogelu eu hunain. Lywydd, mae gobaith ar y gorwel, gyda chanlyniadau cychwynnol addawol yn achos dau frechlyn. Ond rydym yn wynebu misoedd tywyll ac anodd yn y gaeaf i ddod, ac mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru gynllunio mewn ffordd strategol sy'n targedu cymorth lle mae ei angen fwyaf. Mae angen cymorth ar y cymunedau hynod hyn. Maent wedi bod yn galw am y cymorth hwnnw ers degawdau. O'r diwedd, efallai y gall y Llywodraeth hon fynd ati nawr i unioni'r anghydraddoldebau sydd wedi plagio ein strydoedd a mynd i'r afael â'r holl ôl-gryniadau sydd wedi adleisio dros y degawdau ers cau'r pyllau glo. Os nad nawr, pryd?