English: All of us in the Siambr read numerous reports and briefing documents about the problems that we need to tackle, but I'd like to note, as a new Member of the Senedd, that this was my first committee inquiry, that into the pandemic and debt, and that the direct evidence that we heard about how we need to do more to support families in keeping their head above water had deeply affected me. Because, even though the report mentions the pandemic impact on debt levels, it was clear from the evidence that these debts had been exacerbated, rather than caused, by the pandemic. The report has found that 18 per cent of adults in Wales - a higher proportion than England and Scotland - have faced financial hardship as a result of the pandemic. The indicators that led the committee to hold an inquiry into this issue in the first instance have turned into a clear and frightening depiction of a crisis, the like of which hasn't been seen since the financial crisis over a decade ago. And there is worse to come. The words used were striking and should give us all pause. I have quoted from the report in previous debates in this place, but they are worth repeating. 'What really worries me', said one witness, 'is a potential 30% increase in gas and electricity prices in 2022. That is going to push people into Victorian poverty.' Well, 2022 is here. The warnings were accurate, if not slightly conservative, bearing in mind the Centrica boss's warning today regarding gas prices, and the older people's commissioner's concerns today about the ensuing impact on pensioners. The pertinent question in the report is why so many families are in such a vulnerable position in the first place. What can be done about this, and what else could be done to protect people in any future crises? Those who are most at risk of suffering problem debt are those households that already face socioeconomic disadvantage in our society, people such as renters, those on low incomes or in insecure employment, disabled people, children, single parents, older people, care leavers, and people from ethnic minorities. The report contains numerous examples of the way that problem debt disproportionately impacts some groups in society and increases socioeconomic inequality in Wales. For example, disabled people have been twice as likely of being in arrears during the pandemic, and the Bevan Foundation reported that its research had demonstrated that people living in social housing were more likely to be in arrears for all bills than any other group. We heard that 43 per cent of survivors of domestic abuse had been pushed into debt. We have to take major steps as a matter of urgency to tackle this problem of debt affecting children's welfare - they are our nation's future. The revelation that one in five families has had to cut back on items for children, and one in 10 families with two children has had to cut back on food, is difficult to comprehend in the Wales of the twenty-first century - a Wales that is part of a state that is one of the richest in the world. It is disgraceful. It is unforgivable. And it's a problem not just for today or tomorrow, but one that will be with us for decades to come if we don't take urgent action. Living in a household with debt problems, facing financial strain, is an adverse childhood experience, and can have a lifelong negative impact on a young person's health and opportunities. The Government must seek solutions of all kinds, with regard to housing, taxation, public transport, and support payments such as the EMA. In accordance with the calls made in the committee report, Plaid Cymru wants to see a new focus from Government on accelerating work to ensure that all social housing is A-rated for energy efficiency, and to ensure the better promotion and support of debt advice services and sources of affordable credit amongst those at greater risk of debt, and making the temporary flexibility in the discretionary assistance fund permanent. It is concerning to see that the funding allocated to the fund in 2022-23 is lower than it was in the previous two financial years. I am pleased that the co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru contains vital measures to tackle poverty and its impact on families, such as free school meals for all primary pupils, expanding free childcare provision to include two-year-olds, reforming council tax, and ensuring measures to tackle the housing crisis. We support the recommendations in the report calling on the Government to take specific steps as a matter of urgency, and, as I have previously said, Plaid Cymru believes that there are other steps that the Government could take that could light a candle in the dark. The co-operation agreement also includes a commitment to devolve the administration of welfare.
Welsh: Mae pawb ohonom yn y Siambr yn darllen adroddiadau a dogfennau briffio niferus am y problemau y mae angen inni fynd i'r afael â nhw, ond hoffwn nodi, fel Aelod newydd o'r Senedd, mai ymchwiliad y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol i ddyled a'r pandemig oedd fy ymchwiliad pwyllgor cyntaf, a bod clywed tystiolaeth uniongyrchol am sut mae angen gwneud mwy i gynorthwyo teuluoedd i gadw eu pen uwchben y dŵr wedi cael effaith ddofn arnaf. Achos, er sôn mae'r adroddiad am effaith y pandemig ar ddyled, roedd yn eglur o'r dystiolaeth fod y dyledion hyn wedi eu dyfnhau, nid eu creu, gan y pandemig. Mae'r adroddiad wedi canfod bod 18 y cant o oedolion yng Nghymru - cyfran uwch nag yn Lloegr neu'r Alban - wedi wynebu caledi economaidd o ganlyniad i'r pandemig. Mae'r arwyddion a sbardunodd penderfyniad y pwyllgor i ymchwilio i'r mater hwn yn y lle cyntaf wedi arwain at gyflwyno darlun clir a brawychus o argyfwng na welwyd ei debyg ers yr argyfwng ariannol dros ddegawd yn ôl. Ac mae gwaeth i ddod. Roedd y termau a ddefnyddiwyd yn drawiadol ac yn droëdig. Rwyf wedi dyfynnu o'r adroddiad o'r blaen mewn dadleuon yn y Siambr, ond maen nhw'n werth eu hailadrodd. 'Yr hyn sy'n fy mhoeni'n fawr', meddai un tyst, 'yw cynnydd posibl o 30 y cant mewn prisiau nwy a thrydan yn 2022. Mae hynny'n mynd i wthio pobl i dlodi ar lefel oes Fictoria.' Wel, mae 2022 yma. Roedd y rhybuddion yn gywir, os nad ychydig yn geidwadol o glywed rhybudd pennaeth Centrica heddiw am brisiau nwy, a'r pryderon a fynegwyd gan y comisiynydd pobl hŷn heddiw am effaith hyn ar bensiynwyr. Cwestiwn canolog yr adroddiad yw pam fod cymaint o deuluoedd mewn sefyllfa mor fregus yn y lle cyntaf? Beth ellir ei wneud am hyn, a beth arall y gellir ei wneud i amddiffyn y boblogaeth mewn unrhyw argyfyngau yn y dyfodol? Y rhai sydd fwyaf mewn perygl o ddioddef dyledion problemus yw'r aelwydydd sydd eisoes yn wynebu anfantais economaidd-gymdeithasol, pobl fel rhentwyr, y rhai ar incwm isel neu mewn gwaith ansicr, pobl anabl, plant, rhieni unigol, pobl hŷn, rhai sy'n gadael gofal, a phobl o leiafrifoedd ethnig. Ceir enghreifftiau niferus yn yr adroddiad o sut mae dyled broblemus yn effeithio'n anghymesur ar rai grwpiau yn y gymdeithas ac yn dyfnhau'r anghydraddoldebau economaidd-gymdeithasol. Er enghraifft, mae pobl anabl wedi bod ddwywaith yn fwy tebygol o fod ag ôl-ddyledion yn ystod y pandemig, ac mae adroddodd Sefydliad Bevan fod eu hymchwil yn dangos bod pobl sy'n byw mewn tai cymdeithasol yn fwy tebygol o fod ag ôl-ddyledion ar bob bil nag unrhyw grŵp arall. Clywon ni fod 43 y cant o oroeswyr cam-drin domestig wedi cael eu gwthio i ddyled. Mae'n rhaid cymryd camau sylweddol ar frys i fynd i'r afael â sut mae'r broblem hon o ddyled yn effeithio ar les plant, dyfodol ein cenedl. Mae'r hyn sy'n cael ei ddadlennu am sut mae un o bob pum teulu yn gorfod torri nôl ar eitemau i blant, ac un o bob 10 teulu gyda dau o blant wedi gorfod torri nôl ar fwyd, yn anodd ei ddirnad yng Nghymru yr unfed ganrif ar hugain. Cymru, sy'n rhan o wladwriaeth sy'n un o'r cyfoethocaf yn y byd. Mae'n warthus. Mae'n anfaddeuol. Ac mae'n broblem nid yn unig am heddiw na fory ond yn un a fydd gyda ni am ddegawdau os na weithredwn ar frys. Mae byw ar aelwyd gyda phroblemau dyled, mewn straen ariannol, yn brofiad niweidiol yn ystod plentyndod, a gall effeithio'n negyddol ar iechyd a chyfleon person ifanc gydol ei oes. Mae'n rhaid i'r Llywodraeth ymchwilio i ddatrysiadau o bob math, ym meysydd tai, trethiant, trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, taliadau cefnogi fel yr EMA. Ac yn unol â galwadau adroddiad y pwyllgor, mae Plaid Cymru am weld ffocws newydd gan y Llywodraeth ar gyflymu'r gwaith i sicrhau bod pob cartref cymdeithasol yn cyrraedd safon graddfa ynni A, a sicrhau hyrwyddo a chefnogaeth well i wasanaethau cyngor ar ddyledion a ffynonellau credyd fforddiadwy, a gwneud yr hyblygrwydd dros dro yn y gronfa cymorth dewisol yn barhaol. Mae'n bryderus i weld bod y cyllid a ddyrennir i'r gronfa honno yn 2022-23 yn is nag yr oedd ar gyfer y ddwy flynedd ariannol flaenorol. Rwy'n falch bod y cytundeb cydweithio gyda Phlaid Cymru yn cynnwys mesurau allweddol i fynd i'r afael â lleihau lefelau tlodi a'r effaith ar deuluoedd - prydau bwyd am ddim i bob plentyn cynradd, ehangu'r ddarpariaeth gofal plant am ddim i gynnwys plant dw flwydd oed, diwygio treth y cyngor a sicrhau mesurau i fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng tai. Rydyn ni'n cefnogi'r argymhellion yn yr adroddiad, sy'n galw ar y Llywodraeth i gymryd camau penodol ar frys, ac fel rwyf wedi sôn eisoes, mae Plaid Cymru yn credu bod hefyd gamau eraill sydd angen eu cymryd, sydd o fewn gallu'r Llywodraeth, a all helpu goleuo cannwyll yn y gwyll. Mae'r cytundeb cydweithio hefyd yn cynnwys ymrwymiad i ddatganoli gweinyddu lles.