English: Can I thank you for your statement, Minister? It is disappointing that it was trailed in the media for such a long period before it was made to Members of the Senedd, but I suppose that's just what we're getting used to here under the current Welsh Government. I think we've put on record the fact that we will participate in this commission. We've made that quite clear. We think it's important to have the voice of unionism at the table, and the voice of the centre-right at the table. But I do have to say that I was quite surprised to see that independence is one of the things that you have tasked this commission with considering, because we all know, and it's been emphasised by your own First Minister, that independence was very much on the ballot paper at the recent Senedd elections, because it was front and centre of the Plaid Cymru campaign, and it was overwhelmingly rejected. In fact, the Plaid Cymru share of the vote actually went down. So, why on earth the commission should be tasked with looking at independence and considering independence is beyond me, especially when the Welsh Government is constantly bleating on about not having sufficient resources to be able to do the real work that people want you to get on with, which is to sort out the backlog in our NHS, get to grips with the problems in our economy, and deliver the catch-up education that young people across Wales desperately need. Just in terms of the appointment of the co-chairs, I very much welcome the appointment of Rowan Williams. I think that that's a very sound appointment. But some people, of course, will question the appointment of Laura McAllister. They will question her appointment because, of course, she's a former Plaid Cymru candidate in two parliamentary elections. They will question whether she already has a view on these matters, and whether she's entirely independent in the way that she's able to organise this particular commission's business. So, I would ask you, Minister: why is it that you decided that Laura McAllister was the appropriate co-chair to appoint alongside Rowan Williams, given her history as a Plaid Cymru candidate? I think it's a serious question that people are beginning to ask. I think it's also disappointing, really, that there hasn't been proper engagement with the UK Government in relation to the establishment of this commission, because we all know that simply having a unilateral report produced by this particular commission, which is just focusing on Wales, isn't actually going to deal with the wider issue of constitutional reform across the UK, because that can only be conducted by a UK Government in partnership with other Governments across the United Kingdom. So, why do you feel that it's a priority to get under way with this work? Why not have further conversations with the UK Government to be able to determine a way forward on a four-nation basis? I've noted the timetable for the work of this commission seems very long. Why is it two years? Why do you think the commission needs two years to come to its final conclusions? What are the implications of that in terms of the costs associated with this commission? Can you tell us what the costs are that you've budgeted for within your finite resources as a Welsh Government? Are the independent members going to be paid? Are the co-chairs going to be paid? If so, what is their remuneration? I think that these are important questions that we need to know and that should be shared in the public domain. You've, obviously, told us a little bit about the terms of reference, and I note that there was a statement that was issued this afternoon while we were in the Chamber. It's a good job I check my e-mails, Llywydd, or else I wouldn't have been able to see it. I can see that the terms of reference are two simple broad objectives. In fact, they're so broad that it wouldn't surprise me if this commission took 20 years to come up with its recommendations. I would ask whether there's any further detail that you can give us in terms of the terms of reference or whether that is simply it, those two broad objectives: 'To consider and develop options for fundamental reform of the constitutional structures of the United Kingdom, in which Wales remains an integral part;' and, 'To consider and develop all progressive principal options'. What does that mean? What does a 'progressive principal option' mean 'to strengthen Welsh democracy'? Does that mean, given that all things are on the table, that you'll be considering the abolition of the Senedd? That's not something we would advocate, but, obviously, that's an option that could be considered as part of the all-things-on-the-table comment that I've heard made by one of the co-chairs so far. You've referred to the panel of experts and you've said that you will tell us more about who those experts are. Can I ask you what consideration is being given to their already predeclared views when you're actually making appointments to that panel of experts, and indeed the other independent members that you're still yet to appoint? I can see that my time is up. I have a couple more questions if I may, Llywydd; it is an important issue. One of the challenges I think that we have here in Wales is that we have to take the public with us on any journey going forward. The public have been persuaded of the desire to have a Parliament that is strong, that has law-making powers in Wales, and many of us campaigned in referendums for that. Indeed, in the last referendum, I campaigned heavily for a powerful Senedd with law-making powers. But if you're talking about taking things further in terms of this independence route, then I'm afraid that I can see this impacting support for our Senedd in a detrimental way. Has that been considered by the Welsh Government? Because I fear that it is something that could seriously undermine this Senedd and the support for it.
Welsh: A gaf i ddiolch i chi am eich datganiad, Gweinidog? Mae'n siomedig ei fod wedi'i hyrwyddo yn y cyfryngau am gyfnod mor hir cyn iddo gael ei wneud i Aelodau'r Senedd, ond mae'n debyg mai dyna'n union yr ydym ni'n dod i arfer ag ef yma o dan Lywodraeth bresennol Cymru. Rwy'n credu ein bod wedi cofnodi'r ffaith y byddwn ni'n cymryd rhan yn y comisiwn hwn. Rydym wedi gwneud hynny'n eithaf clir. Rydym ni'n credu ei bod yn bwysig cael llais unoliaeth wrth y bwrdd, a llais y canol-dde wrth y bwrdd. Ond mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud fy mod yn synnu'n fawr o weld bod annibyniaeth yn un o'r pethau yr ydych chi wedi rhoi'r dasg i'r comisiwn hwn ei ystyried, oherwydd fe wyddom ni i gyd, ac mae wedi'i bwysleisio gan eich Prif Weinidog eich hun, fod annibyniaeth ar y papur pleidleisio yn etholiadau diweddar y Senedd, oherwydd yr oedd yn flaenllaw ac wrth wraidd ymgyrch Plaid Cymru, ac fe'i gwrthodwyd yn llethol. Yn wir, aeth cyfran Plaid Cymru o'r bleidlais i lawr. Felly, mae y tu hwnt i mi pam ar y ddaear y dylid rhoi'r dasg i'r comisiwn edrych ar annibyniaeth ac ystyried annibyniaeth, yn enwedig pan fo Llywodraeth Cymru'n cwyno gyson am beidio â chael digon o adnoddau i allu gwneud y gwaith go iawn y mae pobl eisiau i chi fwrw ymlaen ag ef, sef datrys yr ôl-groniad yn ein GIG, mynd i'r afael â'r problemau yn ein heconomi, a darparu'r addysg dal i fyny mae ar bobl ifanc ledled Cymru ei hangen yn ddirfawr. O ran penodi'r cyd-gadeiryddion, rwyf yn croesawu'n fawr benodiad Rowan Williams. Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n benodiad cadarn iawn. Ond bydd rhai pobl, wrth gwrs, yn cwestiynu penodiad Laura McAllister. Byddan nhw'n cwestiynu ei phenodiad oherwydd, wrth gwrs, mae'n gyn-ymgeisydd Plaid Cymru mewn dau etholiad seneddol. Byddan nhw'n cwestiynu a oes ganddi farn eisoes ar y materion hyn, ac a yw'n gwbl annibynnol yn y ffordd y gall drefnu busnes y comisiwn penodol hwn. Felly, gofynnaf i chi, Gweinidog: pam y gwnaethoch chi benderfynu mai Laura McAllister oedd y cyd-gadeirydd priodol i'w phenodi ochr yn ochr â Rowan Williams, o ystyried ei hanes fel ymgeisydd Plaid Cymru? Rwy'n credu ei fod yn gwestiwn difrifol mae pobl yn dechrau ei ofyn. Rwy'n credu ei bod hefyd yn siomedig, mewn gwirionedd, na fu ymgysylltiad priodol â Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch sefydlu'r comisiwn hwn, oherwydd fe wyddom ni i gyd nad yw cael adroddiad unochrog a gynhyrchwyd gan y comisiwn penodol hwn, sy'n canolbwyntio ar Gymru yn unig, yn mynd i ddelio â mater ehangach diwygio cyfansoddiadol ledled y DU, oherwydd mai dim ond mewn partneriaeth â Llywodraethau eraill ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig y gellir cynnal hynny. Felly, pam ydych chi'n teimlo ei bod yn flaenoriaeth bwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith hwn? Beth am gael sgyrsiau pellach gyda Llywodraeth y DU i allu penderfynu ar ffordd ymlaen ar sail pedair gwlad? Rwyf wedi nodi bod yr amserlen ar gyfer gwaith y comisiwn hwn yn ymddangos yn hir iawn. Pam mae'n ddwy flynedd? Pam, yn eich barn chi, mae angen dwy flynedd ar y comisiwn i ddod i'w gasgliadau terfynol? Beth yw goblygiadau hynny o ran y costau sy'n gysylltiedig â'r comisiwn hwn? A allwch chi ddweud wrthym ni beth yw'r costau yr ydych chi wedi cyllidebu ar eu cyfer o fewn eich adnoddau cyfyngedig fel Llywodraeth Cymru? A fydd yr aelodau annibynnol yn cael eu talu? A fydd y cyd-gadeiryddion yn cael eu talu? Os felly, beth yw eu tâl? Rwy'n credu bod y rhain yn gwestiynau pwysig y mae angen i ni eu gwybod a dylid rhannu hynny yn gyhoeddus. Rydych chi, yn amlwg, wedi dweud ychydig wrthym ni am y cylch gorchwyl, ac rwy'n nodi bod datganiad a gyhoeddwyd y prynhawn yma tra'r oeddem ni yn y Siambr. Mae'n beth da fy mod i'n gwirio fy negeseuon e-bost, Llywydd, neu fel arall ni fyddwn wedi gallu ei weld. Gallaf weld mai dau amcan cyffredinol syml yw'r cylch gorchwyl. Yn wir, maen nhw mor eang fel na fyddai'n fy synnu pe bai'r comisiwn hwn yn cymryd 20 mlynedd i lunio ei argymhellion. Byddwn i'n gofyn a oes unrhyw fanylion pellach y gallwch chi eu rhoi i ni o ran y cylch gorchwyl neu ai dyna ni'n syml, y ddau amcan cyffredinol hynny: 'Ystyried a datblygu opsiynau i ddiwygio'n sylfaenol strwythurau cyfansoddiadol y Deyrnas Unedig, y mae Cymru yn parhau'n rhan annatod ohoni;' ac 'Ystyried a datblygu'r holl brif opsiynau blaengar'. Beth mae hynny'n ei olygu? Beth mae 'prif opsiwn blaengar' yn ei olygu 'i gryfhau democratiaeth Cymru'? Ydy hynny'n golygu, o gofio bod pob peth ar y bwrdd, y byddwch chi'n ystyried diddymu'r Senedd? Nid yw hynny'n rhywbeth y byddem ni yn ei gefnogi, ond, yn amlwg, mae hynny'n opsiwn y gellid ei ystyried fel rhan o'r sylw am fod â phopeth ar y bwrdd, yr wyf wedi'i glywed gan un o'r cyd-gadeiryddion hyd yn hyn. Rydych chi wedi cyfeirio at y panel o arbenigwyr ac rydych chi wedi dweud y byddwch chi'n dweud mwy wrthym ni am bwy yw'r arbenigwyr hynny. A gaf i ofyn i chi pa ystyriaeth sy'n cael ei rhoi i'w safbwyntiau sydd eisoes wedi'u datgan ymlaen llaw pan fyddwch chi mewn gwirionedd yn gwneud penodiadau i'r panel hwnnw o arbenigwyr, ac yn wir yr aelodau annibynnol eraill yr ydych i'w penodi eto? Gallaf weld bod fy amser ar ben. Mae gennyf gwpl o gwestiynau eraill os caf i, Llywydd; mae'n fater pwysig. Un o'r heriau sydd gennym ni yma yng Nghymru yw bod yn rhaid i ni fynd â'r cyhoedd gyda ni ar unrhyw daith wrth symud ymlaen. Mae'r cyhoedd wedi'u darbwyllo o'r awydd i gael Senedd sy'n gryf, sydd â phwerau deddfu yng Nghymru, ac ymgyrchodd llawer ohonom mewn refferenda ar gyfer hynny. Yn wir, yn y refferendwm diwethaf, ymgyrchais yn drwm dros Senedd rymus gyda phwerau deddfu. Ond os ydych chi'n sôn am fynd â phethau ymhellach o ran y llwybr annibyniaeth hwn, yna mae arnaf ofn y gallaf weld y gefnogaeth hon i'n Senedd yn ei heffeithio'n andwyol. Ydy Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ystyried hynny? Oherwydd rydw i'n ofni ei fod yn rhywbeth a allai danseilio'r Senedd hon a'r gefnogaeth iddi o ddifrif.