English: Thank you. As a Government, we acknowledge the positive impact that the education maintenance allowance can have on young people. That's why we, during the years of austerity forced on Wales by the coalition Government, have tried to safeguard the allowance, as opposed to what happened in England, where it was abolished in 2011. And now we face another extremely difficult financial situation, we are still committed, in accordance with our programme for government, to maintaining the allowance. Alongside our other commitments for young people, and at an annual cost of £17 million, the EMA makes it possible for more than 18,000 young people to continue in post-compulsory education every year. Almost one in three - 31 per cent - of full-time students who meet the eligibility criteria in terms of age receive support through the EMA. The current payment rate in terms of attendance, namely £30 a week, is consistent with what is available in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Of course, I understand that there are concerns, particularly at a time of crisis, that the EMA hasn't increased for some time. I acknowledge the work of the Bevan Foundation and continue to welcome their views in terms of where we can make further improvement in terms of our commitment to young people. I realise that young people also are feeling financial pressures as a result of the cost-of-living crisis that we are currently facing. But, at a time when we all have to get to grips with this new pressure on spending, it isn't possible to increase the level of the EMA from £30 to £45. We estimate that doing so would mean £8.5 million in addition annually. Also, even though I understand that the threshold for considering a young person's household to be eligible hasn't changed, the additional £8.5 million that would be required to increase the rate would increase to more than £15 million a year if we were to introduce these changes as suggested.
Welsh: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Fel Llywodraeth, rŷn ni'n cydnabod yr effaith bositif y mae'r lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg yn gallu ei gael ar bobl ifanc. Dyna pam rydym ni, yn ystod y blynyddoedd o gyni a orfodwyd ar Gymru gan y Llywodraeth glymblaid, wedi ceisio diogelu'r lwfans, yn wahanol i Loegr, lle gwnaed i ffwrdd ag ef yn 2011. A ninnau nawr, unwaith eto, yn wynebu cyfnod ariannol anhygoel o anodd, ydyn, rydyn ni'n dal i fod wedi ymrwymo yn unol â'n rhaglen lywodraethu i gynnal y lwfans. Ochr yn ochr â'n hymrwymiadau eraill i bobl ifanc, ac ar gost flynyddol o £17 miliwn, mae'r lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg yn ei wneud e'n bosib i fwy na 18,000 o bobl ifanc barhau mewn addysg ôl-orfodol bob blwyddyn. Mae bron i un o bob tri - 31 y cant - o fyfyrwyr llawn amser sy'n bodloni'r meini prawf cymwys o ran oed yn cael cymorth trwy'r lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg. Mae cyfradd taliadau presenoldeb y lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg, sef £30 yr wythnos, yn gyson â'r hyn sydd ar gael yn yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon. Wrth gwrs, dwi'n deall bod yna bryderon, yn enwedig mewn cyfnod o argyfwng, nad yw'r lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg wedi cynyddu ers peth amser. Dwi'n cydnabod gwaith Sefydliad Bevan ac yn parhau i groesawu eu safbwyntiau o ran lle y gallwn ni wella ymhellach ein hymrwymiad i bobl ifanc. Dwi'n sylweddoli bod pobl ifanc hefyd yn teimlo straen ariannol yr argyfwng costau byw sy'n bodoli ar hyn o bryd. Ond ar adeg pan fo'n rhaid inni i gyd fynd i'r afael â'r pwysau newydd ar wariant, dyw hi wir ddim yn bosib cynyddu cyfradd y lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg o £30 i £45. Rydyn ni'n amcangyfrif y byddai gwneud hynny yn golygu £8.5 miliwn yn rhagor y flwyddyn. Hefyd, er fy mod i'n deall nad yw'r trothwy ar gyfer ystyried aelwyd person ifanc yn gymwys i gael y lwfans wedi newid, byddai'r £8.5 miliwn ychwanegol a fyddai ei angen i gynyddu'r gyfradd yn codi i fwy na £15 miliwn y flwyddyn pe baem ni'n cyflwyno'r newidiadau hyn.