English: The Welsh Government firmly believes that the integration of refugees and asylum seekers should begin on day one of their arrival. This approach is essential in ensuring the best possible outcomes for individuals and communities. We know there is strong public support for recent arrivals to learn English or Welsh - or both, bearing in mind that many refugees have excellent language skills - and we want to support them to do this. Supporting volunteering schemes for asylum seekers and refugees would contribute to Welsh society whilst also supporting language acquisition, improving mental health and increasing the employability of individuals. We are aiming for a holistic approach, where the actions in the plan complement each other to achieve overall positive change for refugees and asylum seekers. It is important to emphasise that integration of people seeking sanctuary is not all about one-sided giving. Refugees bring a wealth of experience and a range of skills and abilities to Wales. The NHS in Wales has benefited from the Welsh Government-funded Wales asylum-seeking and refugee doctors group. This is delivered by the Wales Deanery and Displaced People in Action, supporting refugee doctors to have their existing medical qualifications recognised and find employment in the NHS. This scheme is estimated to have saved taxpayers at least £25 million over the last 15 years, empowered refugees to utilise their skills to give back to Wales, and saved countless lives too. Some of the issues raised by the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee inquiry in 2017 can only be resolved by the Home Office. It is no secret that we are often frustrated by the UK Government's decisions in relation to asylum and migration matters, but we have to accept that these matters are not devolved to Wales. Nevertheless, we have advocated for increasing financial support for asylum seekers awaiting decisions, additional money for local authorities who support asylum seekers in their area and improved asylum accommodation standards, amongst other issues. Unfortunately, to say the least, the UK Government does not appear to have incorporated our recommendations in the design of their forthcoming asylum accommodation contracts or significantly increased financial support in the asylum system. We will do what we can to mitigate the negative effects of UK Government policies on community integration in Wales and will seek to work constructively with the Home Office to identify and raise concerns where they arise. Our nation of sanctuary plan focuses on proposals within the devolved areas that the Welsh Government can influence. The plan outlines the breadth of work that we are undertaking to ensure that the inequalities experienced by refugees and asylum seekers are reduced, their access to opportunities increased, and that relations between these communities and wider society are improved. We have prioritised the key issues that refugees and asylum seekers talked to us about during preparatory work for this consultation. This includes ensuring individuals can access information and advice to help them orientate themselves to new surroundings, supporting opportunities to learn the language and to find employment, findings ways to avoid destitution, and improving access to health services. In developing the actions we have sought to prevent the most harmful problems experienced by refugees and asylum seekers in Wales. These include homelessness, mental health conditions, poor accommodation and the risk of destitution. We have already made some encouraging progress in some of these areas but there is much work still to be done to improve outcomes. We are continuing to consider improvements that we can make to support those seeking sanctuary, including looking at extending eligibility for education grants and concessionary transport to asylum seekers. These are complex and delicate areas, where a rush to extend eligibility could have unintended consequences for asylum applications. We also need the UK Government to recognise our desire to ensure that all members of Welsh society can integrate, and agree not to undermine this intention by placing Welsh Government funding streams on the list of prohibited public funds in the immigration rules. We are committed to the principle of extending entitlement in the interests of community integration and personal well-being, but we need to work through potential issues carefully to ensure that we make things better for people at risk of destitution and not worse. Our work continues in respect of our support for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. While we were ultimately not asked by the UK Government to welcome as many children to Wales under the Dubs scheme as we planned for, we have been able to provide safety and a fresh start for a small number and we wish them well in their lives here. Together with the Minister for Children, Older People and Social Care and with our counterpart Ministers in the Scottish Government, we have lobbied the UK Government regularly on a range of matters about these children. The replies we have received have not been as positive, proactive or as helpful as we would have liked, I'm sorry to say, Deputy Presiding Officer. Nevertheless, we have made progress on the actions recommended by the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee in relation to these children and we will continue to do so. As I mentioned, the nation of sanctuary plan is currently out for consultation and the plan will continue to be developed and be amended to reflect the responses and suggestions received when the consultation period closes next Monday, 25 June. The plan comprises actions that we are seeking to take in the remainder of this Assembly term. Therefore, it forms an important part of a long-term aim for Wales to be a true nation of sanctuary for refugees and asylum seekers. There is a Refugee Week stand in the Oriel this week, including a new film produced by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, and an opportunity for members of the public to state what simple act they can do to support people seeking sanctuary in Wales. I was very pleased that we were able to do that this lunchtime together, Deputy Presiding Officer. I urge you all to visit the stand and include your own act. I would also like to thank the members of the Oasis World Choir who came here today to sing for us. Let us demonstrate to them how democracy can work to benefit all the residents of a nation, and that Wales, a small nation, punches above its weight when it comes to providing sanctuary. Diolch.
Welsh: Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn credu'n gryf y dylid dechrau integreiddio ffoaduriaid a cheiswyr lloches y diwrnod y byddan nhw'n cyrraedd. Mae'r dull hwn yn hanfodol ar gyfer sicrhau'r canlyniadau gorau posibl i unigolion a chymunedau. Gwyddom fod cefnogaeth gref ymysg y cyhoedd i ddyfodiaid ddysgu Cymraeg neu Saesneg - neu'r ddwy iaith, o gofio bod llawer o ffoaduriaid yn meddu ar sgiliau iaith rhagorol - ac rydym yn awyddus i'w cefnogi i wneud hyn. Byddai cefnogi cynlluniau gwirfoddoli ar gyfer ceiswyr lloches a ffoaduriaid yn cyfrannu at y gymdeithas Gymreig gan hefyd gefnogi dysgu iaith, adfer iechyd meddwl a gwella cyflogadwyedd unigolion. Rydym yn anelu at ddull cyfannol, lle mae'r camau yn y cynllun yn ategu ei gilydd i gyflawni newid cadarnhaol cyffredinol i ffoaduriaid a cheiswyr lloches. Mae'n bwysig pwysleisio nad yw integreiddio pobl sy'n ceisio lloches yn golygu proses unochrog o roi. Daw ffoaduriaid â chyfoeth o brofiad ac ystod o sgiliau a galluoedd i Gymru. Mae'r GIG yng Nghymru wedi elwa ar Grŵp Meddygon Ceiswyr Lloches a Ffoaduriaid Cymru a ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Caiff hwn ei ddarparu gan Ddeoniaeth Cymru a Displaced People in Action, sy'n cefnogi meddygon sy'n ffoaduriaid i gael cydnabyddiaeth o'u cymwysterau meddygol presennol a dod o hyd i gyflogaeth yn y GIG. Amcangyfrifir fod y cynllun wedi arbed o leiaf £25 miliwn i drethdalwyr dros y 15 mlynedd diwethaf, wedi rhoi'r gallu i ffoaduriaid ddefnyddio eu sgiliau i dalu'n ôl i Gymru, ac arbed bywydau dirifedi hefyd. Y Swyddfa Gartref yn unig a all ddatrys rhai o'r materion a godwyd gan ymchwiliad y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb, Llywodraeth Leol a Chymunedau yn 2017. Nid yw'n gyfrinach ein bod yn teimlo'n rhwystredig yn aml yn sgil penderfyniadau Llywodraeth y DU o ran materion lloches a mudo. Ond mae'n rhaid inni dderbyn nad yw'r materion hyn wedi'u datganoli i Gymru. Serch hynny, rydym wedi cymell y dylid cynyddu'r cymorth ariannol i geiswyr lloches sy'n aros am benderfyniadau, rhoi arian ychwanegol i awdurdodau lleol sy'n cynorthwyo ceiswyr lloches yn eu bro, a safonau gwell o lety lloches, ymysg pethau eraill. Yn anffodus, a dweud y lleiaf, nid yw'n ymddangos bod Llywodraeth y DU wedi ymgorffori ein hargymhellion wrth ddylunio eu contractau llety lloches sydd ar y gweill nac ychwaith wedi cynyddu'n sylweddol y cymorth ariannol i'r system lloches. Byddwn yn gwneud cymaint ag y gallwn i liniaru effeithiau negyddol polisïau Llywodraeth y DU ar integreiddio yn y gymuned yng Nghymru a byddwn yn ceisio gweithio'n adeiladol gyda'r Swyddfa Gartref i nodi a chodi pryderon lle byddant yn dod i'r amlwg. Mae ein cynllun cenedl noddfa yn canolbwyntio ar gynigion o fewn y meysydd datganoledig hynny y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ddylanwadu arnynt. Mae'r cynllun yn amlinellu ehangder y gwaith yr ydym yn ymgymryd ag ef i sicrhau lleihad yn yr anghydraddoldebau i ffoaduriaid a cheiswyr lloches, cynnydd yn y cyfleoedd a ddaw i'w rhan, a bod cysylltiadau rhwng y cymunedau hyn a'r gymdeithas ehangach yn gwella. Rydym wedi blaenoriaethu'r materion allweddol y soniodd ffoaduriaid a cheiswyr lloches amdanynt wrthym yn ystod y gwaith paratoi ar gyfer yr ymgynghoriad hwn. Mae hyn yn cynnwys sicrhau y gall unigolion gael gwybodaeth a chyngor i'w helpu i ymsefydlu yn eu hamgylchoedd newydd, cefnogi cyfleoedd i ddysgu'r iaith a dod o hyd i gyflogaeth, dod o hyd i ffyrdd o osgoi amddifadedd, a gwella mynediad i wasanaethau iechyd. Wrth ddatblygu'r camau, rydym wedi ceisio rhwystro'r problemau mwyaf niweidiol y mae ffoaduriaid a cheiswyr lloches yn eu profi yng Nghymru. Mae'r rhain yn cynnwys digartrefedd, cyflyrau iechyd meddwl, llety llwm a'r perygl o amddifadedd. Rydym wedi gwneud rhywfaint o gynnydd calonogol yn rhai o'r meysydd hyn eisoes ond mae llawer o waith i'w wneud eto i wella canlyniadau. Rydym yn parhau i ystyried gwelliannau er mwyn cefnogi'r rhai sy'n ceisio lloches, gan gynnwys edrych ar ymestyn cymhwysedd am grantiau addysg a thrafnidiaeth ratach i geiswyr lloches. Mae'r rhain yn feysydd cymhleth a sensitif, a gallai rhuthro i ymestyn cymhwysedd arwain at ganlyniadau anfwriadol ar gyfer ceisiadau am loches. Mae angen hefyd i Lywodraeth y DU gydnabod ein hawydd i sicrhau y gall pob aelod o gymdeithas Cymru integreiddio, a chytuno i beidio â thanseilio'r bwriad hwn drwy roi ffrydiau ariannu Llywodraeth Cymru ar restr yr arian cyhoeddus gwaharddedig yn y rheolau mewnfudo . Rydym wedi ymrwymo i'r egwyddor o ymestyn hawliau er budd integreiddio cymunedol a lles personol. Ond mae angen inni weithio drwy broblemau posibl yn ofalus i sicrhau ein bod yn gwneud pethau yn well ar gyfer pobl mewn perygl o amddifadedd ac nid yn waeth. Rydym yn parhau i weithio i roi ein cefnogaeth i blant sy'n ceisio lloches ar eu pennau eu hunain. Er na ofynnwyd inni yn y pen draw gan Lywodraeth y DU i groesawu cymaint o blant i Gymru dan y cynllun Dubs ag yr oeddem wedi cynllunio ar eu cyfer, rydym wedi gallu cynnig diogelwch a dechrau newydd i nifer fechan ac rydym yn dymuno'r gorau iddyn nhw yn eu bywydau yma. Ynghyd â'r Gweinidog dros Blant, Pobl Hŷn a Gofal Cymdeithasol ac â'n Gweinidogion cyfatebol yn Llywodraeth yr Alban, rydym wedi ceisio dylanwadu ar Lywodraeth y DU yn rheolaidd ar ystod o faterion sy'n ymwneud â'r plant hyn. Nid yw'r ymatebion a gawsom wedi bod mor gadarnhaol, rhagweithiol nac mor ddefnyddiol ag y byddem wedi eu dymuno, mae'n ddrwg gennyf ddweud, Dirprwy Lywydd. Er hynny, rydym wedi gwneud cynnydd ar y camau gweithredu a argymhellwyd gan y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb, Llywodraeth Leol a Chymunedau o ran y plant hyn, a byddwn yn parhau i wneud hynny. Fel y soniais, mae'r cynllun cenedl noddfa yn destun ymgynghoriad ar hyn o bryd a bydd y cynllun yn parhau i gael ei ddatblygu a'i ddiwygio i adlewyrchu'r ymatebion a'r awgrymiadau a geir pan ddaw'r cyfnod ymgynghori i ben ddydd Llun nesaf, 25 Mehefin. Mae'r cynllun yn cynnwys camau gweithredu y byddwn yn ceisio'u cymryd yng ngweddill y tymor Cynulliad hwn. Felly, mae'n llunio rhan bwysig o'r nod hirdymor o gael Cymru yn genedl noddfa wirioneddol i ffoaduriaid a cheiswyr lloches. Ceir stondin Wythnos Ffoaduriaid yn yr Oriel yr wythnos hon, gan gynnwys ffilm newydd a gynhyrchwyd gan y Comisiwn Hawliau Dynol a Chydraddoldeb, a chyfle i'r cyhoedd ddatgan pa weithred syml y gallant ei chyflawni i gefnogi pobl sy'n ceisio lloches yng Nghymru. Roeddwn yn falch iawn ein bod wedi gallu gwneud hynny gyda'i gilydd amser cinio heddiw, Dirprwy Lywydd. Rwy'n eich annog chi i ymweld â'r stondin a chynnwys eich gweithred eich hun. Hoffwn ddiolch hefyd i aelodau'r Oasis World Choir a ddaeth yma heddiw i ganu i ni. Gadewch inni ddangos iddynt sut y gall democratiaeth weithio er budd holl drigolion y genedl, a bod Cymru, y genedl fechan, yn gwneud llawer mwy na'r disgwyl o ran rhoi noddfa i bobl. Diolch.