techiaith/cofnodycynulliad_en-cy huggingface dataset:
English: Minister, local authorities are responsible for agreeing school budgets, and energy is one of the big costs our schools face. In many schools we see big old boilers that are very expensive to run. What assessments have you made, together with local authorities, of the costs now facing schools as we look to the next six and 12 months? And what measures are you considering to ensure that our schools can keep warm? Thank you.
Welsh: Weinidog, awdurdodau lleol sy'n gyfrifol am bennu cyllidebau ysgolion, ac ynni yw un o'r costau mawr y mae ein hysgolion yn eu hwynebu. Mewn llawer o ysgolion, gwelwn hen foeleri mawr sy'n ddrud iawn i'w rhedeg. Pa asesiadau a wnaethoch gydag awdurdodau lleol o'r costau sy'n wynebu ysgolion bellach wrth inni edrych tua'r chwe mis a'r 12 mis nesaf? A pha fesurau sydd dan ystyriaeth gennych i sicrhau y gall ein hysgolion gadw'n gynnes? Diolch.
English: Well, of course, the best thing that could happen to keep schools warm would be for the UK Government to step into this space. [ Interruption.] I hear the Conservatives groaning out loud, but that is going to be the real answer in terms of ensuring that there is an affordable price for energy within schools. That's not the Welsh Government abdicating its responsibility. It's not the Welsh Government's responsibility to step in on energy prices. Welsh Government couldn't introduce a windfall tax, even if we wanted to, because we don't have the powers to do so. That's something that the UK Government should be stepping in to do at this point. Fortunately, we have had discussions about reserves earlier in this question session, and reserves within schools are looking healthy. So, some schools will be able to make investments and be able to consider how they use those reserves in respect of addressing the cost-of-living crisis. That said, I am very mindful that the positive situation for reserves in schools isn't uniform across Wales, and there are schools that don't have those significant reserves that they'll be looking to rely on.
Welsh: Wel, wrth gwrs, y peth gorau a allai ddigwydd, mewn perthynas â chadw ysgolion yn gynnes, fyddai i Lywodraeth y DU gamu i'r adwy. [ Torri ar draws.] Rwy'n clywed y Ceidwadwyr yn griddfan yn uchel, ond dyna fyddai'r ateb gorau i sicrhau bod yna bris fforddiadwy am ynni mewn ysgolion. Ni fyddai hynny'n golygu bod Llywodraeth Cymru'n ymwrthod â'i chyfrifoldeb. Nid cyfrifoldeb Llywodraeth Cymru yw camu i'r adwy mewn perthynas â phrisiau ynni. Ni allai Llywodraeth Cymru gyflwyno treth ffawdelw, hyd yn oed pe bai eisiau gwneud hynny, oherwydd nid oes gennym y pwerau i wneud hynny. Mae hwnnw'n rhywbeth y dylai Llywodraeth y DU fod yn ei wneud ar hyn o bryd. Yn ffodus, rydym wedi cael trafodaethau am gronfeydd wrth gefn yn gynharach yn y sesiwn gwestiynau hon, ac mae cronfeydd wrth gefn mewn ysgolion yn edrych yn iach. Felly, bydd rhai ysgolion yn gallu gwneud buddsoddiadau ac yn gallu ystyried sut i ddefnyddio'r cronfeydd wrth gefn hynny i fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng costau byw. Wedi dweud hynny, rwy'n ymwybodol iawn nad yw'r sefyllfa bositif mewn perthynas â chronfeydd wrth gefn mewn ysgolion yn unffurf ledled Cymru, ac mae yna ysgolion nad oes ganddynt y cronfeydd wrth gefn sylweddol hynny y byddant eisiau dibynnu arnynt.
English: This year, the Welsh Government is providing unhypothecated revenue funding of over £5.1 billion, and over £1 billion in specific grant funding in support of local authority statutory and non-statutory services.
Welsh: Eleni, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn darparu cyllid refeniw heb ei neilltuo o dros £5.1 biliwn, a thros £1 biliwn mewn cyllid grant penodol i gefnogi gwasanaethau statudol ac anstatudol awdurdodau lleol.
English: Thank you, Minister. I was referencing, in particular, the authorities within my region.
Welsh: Diolch. Roeddwn yn cyfeirio, yn arbennig, at yr awdurdodau o fewn fy rhanbarth.
English: One essential statutory provision is social services, and, specifically, care. We know that there are huge problems when it comes to recruiting carers. As a result, more and more individuals are becoming unpaid carers in order to look after their loved ones, and they face financial hardship as a result. Have there been any discussions with the Welsh Local Government Association in terms of extending the financial support for living costs to all unpaid carers, not just the 10 per cent who currently receive carers allowance? Furthermore, can more be done to promote the fact that it's possible for unpaid carers to receive direct payments for providing care, even if they are living in the same household, if it is not possible to find alternative care? Many families are under the impression that this is not possible, but the truth is that local authorities have the right to allow this with appropriate evidence. So, have there been any discussions with the WLGA about this?
Welsh: Un ddarpariaeth statudol hanfodol yw gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, ac, yn benodol, gofal. Gwyddom fod problemau dirfawr o ran recriwtio gofalwyr. O'r herwydd, mae mwy a mwy o unigolion yn dod yn ofalwyr di-dâl er mwyn gofalu am eu hanwyliaid, ac yn wynebu caledi ariannol o'r herwydd. A oes unrhyw drafodaethau wedi bod gyda Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru o ran ymestyn y cymorth ariannol costau byw i bob gofalwr di-dâl, nid dim ond y 10 y cant sydd yn derbyn lwfans gofalwyr ar y funud? Yn bellach, a oes modd gwneud mwy i hyrwyddo ei bod hi'n bosibl i ofalwyr di-dâl dderbyn taliad uniongyrchol i ddarparu gofal, hyd yn oed os ydynt yn byw ar yr un aelwyd, os nad yw'n bosibl canfod gofal amgen? Mae nifer o deuluoedd o dan yr argraff nad yw hyn yn bosibl, ond y gwir amdani yw bod hawl gan awdurdodau lleol i ganiatáu hyn gyda thystiolaeth briodol. Felly, a oes trafodaethau wedi bod gyda'r gymdeithas llywodraeth leol hefyd am hyn?
English: I know that the Minister for social services was at the recent meeting regarding budget pressures that local authority leaders were at, and they were able to have at least some starting of the discussions in terms of the specific concerns and pressures around social care. But I think the point that you make really does speak to the 'Claim what's yours' campaign that we're undertaking at the moment, because, as you say, there are plenty of people who are not aware that they're able to claim carers allowance. There are lots of people who aren't aware that they are able to claim direct payments, so it's important that we undertake as much work as we can to ensure that people are claiming everything to which they're entitled, especially at this difficult time. So, yes, we will absolutely redouble our efforts in that space.
Welsh: Gwn fod y Gweinidog gwasanaethau cymdeithasol yn bresennol yn y cyfarfod diweddar am y pwysau cyllidebol sy'n wynebu arweinwyr awdurdodau lleol, a llwyddasant i ddechrau'r trafodaethau, o leiaf, ar y pwysau a'r pryderon penodol ynghylch gofal cymdeithasol. Ond rwy'n credu bod y pwynt a wnewch yn gysylltiedig â'r ymgyrch 'Hawliwch yr hyn sy'n ddyledus i chi' sydd ar y gweill gennym ar hyn o bryd, oherwydd, fel y dywedwch, ceir digonedd o bobl nad ydynt yn ymwybodol eu bod yn gallu hawlio lwfans gofalwyr. Ceir llawer o bobl nad ydynt yn ymwybodol eu bod yn gallu hawlio taliadau uniongyrchol, felly mae'n bwysig ein bod yn ymgymryd â chymaint o waith ag y gallwn i sicrhau bod pobl yn hawlio popeth y mae ganddynt hawl iddo, yn enwedig yn ystod y cyfnod anodd hwn. Felly, byddwn, fe fyddwn yn dyblu ein hymdrechion yn hynny o beth.
English: Minister, as you're aware and has already been brought up by several Members in this Chamber, local authorities in Wales have vast usable reserves in their coffers. At the end of the 2020-21 financial year, this totalled over £2.1 billion, an increase of £600 million on the year before, with some local authorities, such as my own of Rhondda Cynon Taf, having just under £208 million in usable reserves. You will also be aware that the calculation for the amount that local authorities will receive from the revenue support grant assumes that there is no use of, or addition to, these financial reserves. This ultimately means, Minister, that local authorities are incentivised to keep increasing council tax rates year on year, and hoarding money without any financial impact on the RSG from the Welsh Government. This also means that council tax payers are hit hard year on year with higher and higher council tax bills, just so that councils can keep increasing their financial reserves. With this in mind, Minister, what assessment have you made of limiting the amount of usable reserves that a council can hold before the RSG is affected? And what impact assessment have you made of the detriment that households face when local authorities continue to increase their council tax rates when they have such substantial usable reserves?
Welsh: Weinidog, fel y gwyddoch ac fel sydd eisoes wedi'i godi gan sawl Aelod yn y Siambr, mae gan awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru gronfeydd wrth gefn defnyddiadwy helaeth yn eu coffrau. Ar ddiwedd blwyddyn ariannol 2020-21, ffurfient gyfanswm o dros £2.1 biliwn, cynnydd o £600 miliwn ers y flwyddyn flaenorol, gyda rhai awdurdodau lleol, megis fy awdurdod lleol i yn Rhondda Cynon Taf, yn meddu ar ychydig o dan £208 miliwn mewn cronfeydd wrth gefn defnyddiadwy. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol hefyd fod y cyfrifiad ar gyfer y swm y bydd awdurdodau lleol yn ei dderbyn o'r grant cynnal refeniw yn rhagdybio nad oes defnydd o'r cronfeydd ariannol hyn nac ychwanegiadau atynt. Mae hyn yn golygu, yn y pen draw, Weinidog, fod awdurdodau lleol yn cael eu cymell i barhau i gynyddu cyfraddau treth gyngor o flwyddyn i flwyddyn, a chadw arian heb unrhyw effaith ariannol ar y grant cynnal refeniw gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae hyn hefyd yn golygu bod y rhai sy'n talu'r dreth gyngor yn cael eu taro'n galed flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn gan filiau treth gyngor uwch, er mwyn i gynghorau allu parhau i gynyddu eu cronfeydd ariannol wrth gefn. Gyda hyn mewn golwg, Weinidog, pa asesiad a wnaethoch o gyfyngu ar faint o gronfeydd wrth gefn defnyddiadwy y gall cyngor eu cadw cyn i'r grant cynnal refeniw gael ei effeithio? A pha asesiad effaith a wnaethoch o'r anfantais y mae aelwydydd yn ei hwynebu pan fo awdurdodau lleol yn parhau i gynyddu eu cyfraddau treth gyngor er bod ganddynt gronfeydd defnyddiadwy mor sylweddol?
English: I'm not sure whether the Minister is able to hear. Were you able to hear that?
Welsh: Nid wyf yn siŵr a yw'r Gweinidog yn gallu clywed. A glywsoch chi hynny?
English: I heard the -
Welsh: Clywais y -
English: There was a lot of conversation going on on the same benches as the Member who was asking the question. Did you hear?
Welsh: Roedd llawer o sgwrsio'n digwydd ar yr un meinciau â'r Aelod a oedd yn gofyn y cwestiwn. A glywsoch chi?
English: I did. I understood 90 per cent -
Welsh: Do. Deallais 90 y cant -
English: - so I think we're okay.
Welsh: - felly rwy'n credu ein bod ni'n iawn.
English: You can answer the question. They're now falling out over who was having the conversation. [ Laughter.] Minister. Minister.
Welsh: Gallwch ateb y cwestiwn. Maent bellach yn cweryla dros bwy oedd yn cael y sgwrs. [ Chwerthin.] Weinidog. Weinidog.
English: Okay. So, to answer the question on reserves: I think it is a positive thing that local government has significant reserves when we move into a cost-of-living crisis. And let's remember, when we were discussing the budget last year, we were talking about that improved settlement in this first year of the three-year spending review, which gave local authorities over 9 per cent of an increase in their budget. But we talked, even at that time, when we had no real concept of the size of the cost-of-living crisis coming towards us, that years 2 and 3 of the spending review period were going to be difficult, so I think it's entirely right that local authorities now are looking to see how they can use their reserves in an appropriate way to help manage some of that particular pressure. I do think it is for local authorities to decide at what rate they set their council tax; it is a really important part of local democracy, and I think that we would only step in in extreme circumstances to tell local authorities what to do on council tax. I do believe it's an important tool that should be used on a local basis.
Welsh: Iawn. Felly, i ateb y cwestiwn ar gronfeydd wrth gefn: rwy'n credu ei fod yn beth cadarnhaol fod gan lywodraeth leol gronfeydd sylweddol wrth gefn wrth inni nesu at argyfwng costau byw. A gadewch i ni gofio, pan oeddem yn trafod y gyllideb y llynedd, roeddem yn siarad am y setliad gwell yn y flwyddyn gyntaf o'r adolygiad o wariant tair blynedd, a ddarparodd gynnydd o dros 9 y cant yn y gyllideb i awdurdodau lleol. Ond fe wnaethom siarad, hyd yn oed bryd hynny, pan nad oedd gennym gysyniad go iawn o faint yr argyfwng costau byw a oedd yn ein hwynebu, am y ffaith bod blynyddoedd 2 a 3 o'r adolygiad o wariant am fod yn anodd, felly rwy'n credu ei bod yn hollol iawn fod awdurdodau lleol yn edrych yn awr i weld sut y gallant ddefnyddio'u cronfeydd wrth gefn mewn ffordd briodol i helpu i reoli rhywfaint o'r pwysau arbennig hwnnw. Rwy'n credu mai lle awdurdodau lleol yw penderfynu ar ba raddfa y maent yn gosod eu treth gyngor; mae'n rhan bwysig iawn o ddemocratiaeth leol, ac rwy'n credu mai mewn amgylchiadau eithafol yn unig y byddem yn camu i mewn i ddweud wrth awdurdodau lleol beth i'w wneud ar y dreth gyngor. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn offeryn pwysig y dylid ei ddefnyddio ar sail leol.
English: I will continue to prioritise funding for all local authorities in Wales through a transparent, equitable and jointly produced distribution formula for the local government settlement with our local government partners.
Welsh: Byddaf yn parhau i flaenoriaethu cyllid ar gyfer pob awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru drwy gynhyrchu fformiwla ddosbarthu dryloyw a theg ar gyfer y setliad llywodraeth leol ar y cyd â'n partneriaid llywodraeth leol.
English: Diolch, Weinidog. Minister, the leader of Neath Port Talbot Council asked me, in a recent letter, to press for sufficient additional resources to enable the council to continue to support its communities through the current crises. He compares the current cost-of-living crisis with the COVID crisis, when local government demonstrated time and time again how it is uniquely placed to respond to local needs. But NPT estimate that they are facing unfunded in-year pressures of £10 million, and £24 million during the next financial year. At the same time, of course, the continued impact of the pandemic and current economic crisis have created unprecedented demand on services. For example, presentations to NPT's housing options service are 400 per cent higher than pre pandemic, contacts with children's social services are 300 per cent higher, and I attended that same regional WLGA meeting last week, in which the same bleak situation was repeated and outlined. So, how is the Minister going to ensure that our local authorities are able to maintain core services? We know the door of No. 10 Downing Street is shut firmly in Wales's face, so what answer will council leaders of South Wales West get from Cardiff Bay? Raising council tax isn't a progressive option, so what other ways are there to raise the required revenue?
Welsh: Diolch, Weinidog. Mewn llythyr diweddar, gofynnodd arweinydd Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot i mi bwyso am fwy o adnoddau ychwanegol er mwyn galluogi'r cyngor i barhau i gefnogi ei gymunedau drwy'r argyfyngau presennol. Mae'n cymharu'r argyfwng costau byw presennol ag argyfwng COVID, pan ddangosodd llywodraeth leol dro ar ôl tro sut y mae mewn sefyllfa unigryw i ymateb i anghenion lleol. Ond mae Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot yn amcangyfrif eu bod yn wynebu pwysau heb eu cyllido o £10 miliwn yn ystod y flwyddyn hon, a £24 miliwn yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf. Ar yr un pryd, wrth gwrs, mae effaith barhaus y pandemig a'r argyfwng economaidd presennol wedi arwain at gynnydd digynsail yn y galw ar wasanaethau. Er enghraifft, mae'r nifer sy'n manteisio ar wasanaeth opsiynau tai Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot 400 y cant yn uwch na'r nifer cyn y pandemig, mae cysylltiadau â gwasanaethau cymdeithasol plant 300 y cant yn uwch, a mynychais yr un cyfarfod CLlLC rhanbarthol yr wythnos diwethaf, lle cafodd yr un sefyllfa ddiflas ei hailadrodd a'i hamlinellu. Felly, sut y mae'r Gweinidog yn bwriadu sicrhau bod ein hawdurdodau lleol yn gallu cynnal gwasanaethau craidd? Gwyddom fod drws Rhif 10 Stryd Downing wedi'i gau'n dynn yn wyneb Cymru, felly pa ateb y bydd arweinwyr cynghorau Gorllewin De Cymru yn ei gael o Fae Caerdydd? Nid yw codi'r dreth gyngor yn opsiwn blaengar, felly pa ffyrdd eraill sydd yna i godi'r refeniw angenrheidiol?
English: The Welsh Government is committed to supporting the most vulnerable through this cost-of-living crisis using our fiscal and policy levers. As part of the budget process, I will consider how we can continue to support our most vulnerable people through the cost-of-living crisis.
Welsh: Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo i gefnogi'r rhai mwyaf agored i niwed drwy'r argyfwng costau byw hwn gan ddefnyddio ein hysgogiadau cyllid a pholisi. Fel rhan o broses y gyllideb, byddaf yn ystyried sut y gallwn barhau i gefnogi ein pobl fwyaf agored i niwed drwy'r argyfwng costau byw.
English: Diolch yn fawr, Gweinidog. Our friends in Scotland have greater levers than us to use. They have a progressive income tax system, introduced by the SNP Scottish Government, which ensures that those on lower income pay less tax than elsewhere in the United Kingdom, supporting stronger public services whilst also safeguarding those on lower incomes; a fairer tax system where those with the broadest shoulders are taking most of the weight. I hope, Minister, that you will raise this with your counterparts, with the shadow Cabinet at Westminster, so that Wales will also have the powers to vary the tax bands. Would the Minister agree with me that we shouldn't be left behind by our Scottish friends as they create a fairer nation up there?
Welsh: Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog. Mae gan ein ffrindiau yn yr Alban fwy o ysgogiadau at eu defnydd na ni. Mae ganddynt system dreth incwm flaengar, a gyflwynwyd gan Lywodraeth SNP Yr Alban, sy'n sicrhau bod y rhai ar incwm is yn talu llai o dreth nag mewn mannau eraill yn y Deyrnas Unedig, gan gefnogi gwasanaethau cyhoeddus cryfach tra'u bod yn diogelu'r rhai ar incwm is; system dreth decach lle mae'r rhai sydd â'r ysgwyddau lletaf yn ysgwyddo'r rhan fwyaf o'r pwysau. Rwy'n gobeithio, Weinidog, y byddwch yn codi hyn gyda'ch cymheiriaid, gyda Chabinet yr wrthblaid yn San Steffan, fel y bydd gan Gymru hefyd bwerau i amrywio'r bandiau treth. A fyddai'r Gweinidog yn cytuno na ddylem gael ein gadael ar ôl gan ein ffrindiau Albanaidd wrth iddynt greu cenedl decach yno?
English: Well, it is the case that we have a different system, and, of course, our system was only agreed in 2016. We've only been collecting Welsh rates of income tax for a couple of years, so it is important, I think, at least in this first instance, to let the system bed in, but also, I think, to understand what the implications would be of us having a more progressive, as you say, banding system. So, it's an interesting discussion that we should be having, whilst also considering what the implications would be for our overall tax take here in Wales and what options might be available to us. So, you know, there is work going on in terms of considering the future of the United Kingdom, including fiscal levers, and I think that that plays in well to those particular discussions.
Welsh: Wel, mae'n wir fod gennym system wahanol, ac wrth gwrs, dim ond yn 2016 y cafodd ein system ni ei chytuno. Ers ychydig flynyddoedd yn unig y buom yn casglu cyfraddau treth incwm Cymru, felly ar y cychwyn o leiaf, rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig gadael i'r system ymsefydlu, ond hefyd er mwyn deall beth fyddai'r goblygiadau o gael system fandio fwy blaengar, fel y dywedwch. Felly, mae'n drafodaeth ddiddorol y dylem fod yn ei chael, gan ystyried hefyd beth fyddai'r goblygiadau i'r derbyniadau treth cyffredinol yma yng Nghymru a pha opsiynau a allai fod ar gael i ni. Felly, wyddoch chi, mae gwaith yn mynd rhagddo i ystyried dyfodol y Deyrnas Unedig, gan gynnwys ysgogiadau cyllidol, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n chwarae rhan dda yn y trafodaethau hynny.
English: Building on the tax powers that you have, finance Minister, are you in a position this afternoon to inform us, for every penny that you might seek to raise, if that was your advice to Cabinet at the budget-setting period, how much extra money would come into the Welsh Government coffers in the 45p and 40p threshold, and, conversely, every penny you might take off, what that would lose to the Treasury here in Wales? And, any behavioural concepts that you might have modelled into your advice to Cabinet, would you make that available so that Members are in possession of the full facts when considering the tax powers?
Welsh: Gan adeiladu ar y pwerau treth sydd gennych, Weinidog cyllid, a ydych mewn sefyllfa y prynhawn yma i'n hysbysu, am bob ceiniog y gallech geisio ei chodi, os mai dyna oedd eich cyngor i'r Cabinet yn y cyfnod o osod cyllidebau, faint o arian ychwanegol a fyddai'n dod i goffrau Llywodraeth Cymru yn y trothwy 45c a 40c, ac fel arall, pob ceiniog y gallech ei thynnu, beth fyddai'r golled i'r Trysorlys yma yng Nghymru? Ac unrhyw gysyniadau ymddygiadol y gallech fod wedi'u modelu yn eich cyngor i'r Cabinet, a fyddech yn sicrhau eu bod ar gael fel bod yr Aelodau'n cael y ffeithiau llawn wrth ystyried y pwerau treth?