English: Presiding Officer, I'm sure I speak on behalf of all of the Chamber in expressing my best wishes for Bethan as she begins a period of maternity leave. If I could offer just a little advice in this regard, don't be in too much of a rush to get back. [ Laughter. ] And I say that for purely, purely unselfish reasons. Bethan, you are about to embark on the toughest job that you will ever do, and in some ways, coming back to this Chamber will be a rest, I can assure you. [ Laughter. ] But I just want to wish you and your husband all the best on this wonderful, wonderful journey that you are about to embark on. It's so timely that Bethan raises this question this afternoon, because I understand, Presiding Officer, in the gallery above us today are a number of participants from an Erasmus programme - teachers who, as part of that programme, are able to work internationally to develop skills and understanding and to strengthen each other's education system. That valuable work is in danger of being lost if we don't get decisions around continued participation in the Erasmus+ programme right. As we rehearsed in the Chamber yesterday, there is no reason why leaving the European Union is incompatible with our ongoing continuation as full partners in that particular programme, across the entire range of that programme, which supports educational exchanges for practitioners, for those in higher education, for those in further education, for our schools and for those in our youth clubs and our youth services. Wales has disproportionately benefited and has been highly successful in drawing on those Erasmus+ funds to expand the life opportunities for a whole range of children and young people and professionals, and that, potentially, is at risk. Now, it is true to say that the vote this week does not preclude us from an ongoing negotiation, and I have used every opportunity that I have had and will continue to have to persuade Chris Skidmore and, in particular, the Treasury, of the real value of that money. And sometimes, politicians and civil servants need to be reminded that we can know the cost of everything and sometimes miss the value of some things, and Erasmus+ is an example of where the value that is appreciated is so much more than the financial sums that are invested.
Welsh: Lywydd, rwy'n siŵr fy mod yn siarad ar ran pawb yn y Siambr wrth fynegi fy nymuniadau gorau i Bethan wrth iddi ddechrau ar ei chyfnod mamolaeth. Os caf fi gynnig rhywfaint o gyngor yn hyn o beth, peidiwch â bod ar ormod o frys i ddod yn ôl. [ Chwerthin.] Ac rwy'n dweud hynny am resymau cwbl anhunanol. Bethan, rydych ar fin cychwyn ar y gwaith anoddaf y byddwch chi byth yn ei wneud, ac mewn rhai ffyrdd bydd dod yn ôl i'r Siambr hon yn orffwys, gallaf eich sicrhau o hynny. [ Chwerthin.] Ond hoffwn ddymuno'r gorau i chi a'ch gŵr ar y daith ryfeddol rydych ar fin cychwyn arni. Mae Bethan yn codi cwestiwn amserol iawn y prynhawn yma, oherwydd rwy'n deall, Lywydd, fod nifer o gyfranogwyr o raglen Erasmus yn yr oriel uwch ein pennau heddiw - athrawon sydd, fel rhan o'r rhaglen honno, yn gallu gweithio'n rhyngwladol i ddatblygu sgiliau a dealltwriaeth a chryfhau systemau addysg ei gilydd. Mae'r gwaith gwerthfawr hwnnw mewn perygl o gael ei golli os nad ydym yn sicrhau bod y penderfyniadau cywir yn cael eu gwneud mewn perthynas â chyfranogiad parhaus yn rhaglen Erasmus+. Fel y dywedasom yn y Siambr ddoe, nid oes unrhyw reswm pam y dylai gadael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd fod yn anghydnaws â'n gallu i barhau i fod yn bartneriaid llawn yn y rhaglen honno, ar draws ystod gyfan y rhaglen, sy'n cefnogi teithiau cyfnewid addysgol i ymarferwyr, i'r rheini mewn addysg uwch, i'r rheini mewn addysg bellach, i'n hysgolion ac i'r rheini yn ein clybiau ieuenctid a'n gwasanaethau ieuenctid. Mae Cymru wedi elwa'n anghymesur ac wedi bod yn hynod lwyddiannus wrth fanteisio ar gronfeydd Erasmus+ i ehangu cyfleoedd bywyd i ystod gyfan o blant a phobl ifanc a gweithwyr proffesiynol, a gallai hynny fod mewn perygl. Nawr, mae'n wir nad yw'r bleidlais yr wythnos hon yn ein hatal rhag cynnal trafodaethau parhaus, ac rwyf wedi defnyddio pob cyfle a gefais a byddaf yn parhau i orfod perswadio Chris Skidmore, a'r Trysorlys yn arbennig, o wir werth yr arian hwnnw. Ac weithiau, mae angen atgoffa gwleidyddion a gweision sifil y gallwn wybod cost popeth heb sylwi ar werth rhai pethau weithiau, ac mae Erasmus+ yn enghraifft o rywbeth sy'n werth cymaint yn fwy na'r symiau ariannol a fuddsoddir.