English: Llywydd, it's been a pleasure to listen to the contributions this afternoon, and I'd like to thank in particular Russell George for chairing the committee's investigation into access to banking as well as, of course, the members of his committee. Clearly, a great deal of effort has gone into producing this excellent report, engaging with relevant partners and stakeholders, and I'd like to thank every member of the committee for their hard work. As the committee report notes, the loss of banks and the services they offer to citizens and to businesses from our high streets is not a new concern. However, the scale of closures continues to escalate at an alarming rate, and we've heard of numerous communities today that have lost their high-street banks in recent times, because traditional banks are retreating from all communities across Wales, and this is why the commitment, working with stakeholders, to explore the principle and establish a community bank of Wales was included in the First Minister's leadership manifesto. As the First Minister confirmed earlier this month, the partnership created by Banc Cambria and the Community Savings Bank Association is completing a detailed project plan, and an initial market assessment and feasibility study is under way, with input from both the Development Bank of Wales and Cardiff University. And I very much look forward to receipt of that report. Now, I do note the committee has some concerns about the feasibility of the community banking proposal and its potential impact on credit unions in particular, but work is already well under way to ensure that credit unions and the community bank and building societies work in collaboration to find the very best solutions to improve access to banking services. And this work is focused entirely on ensuring financial inclusion for all people across our country. Now, Welsh Government officials have also met with the Welsh credit union network to explore opportunities to collaborate whenever and wherever possible. Bank closures and the loss of free-to-use ATMs within communities can have a negative impact for many, but particularly for those who are vulnerable and financially excluded. The Welsh Government is concerned that those on low incomes, the elderly and people living in rural communities are not left behind. Whilst online banking and cashless transactions may be an option for many, we must not forget that some people will struggle, and more vulnerable groups will still need access to cash or to bank branches locally. Now, our vision for financial inclusion is for everybody living in Wales to have access to appropriate and affordable financial services. And the committee's report rightly recognises that many elements of this issue are reserved to the UK Government. Now, I note that the committee calls on the UK Government and the JACS group to review whether the access to banking standard is sufficiently robust to address the impact of bank closures on vulnerable people, on small and medium-sized enterprises and local communities. However, we are actively seeking and we will continue to seek opportunities to engage and to influence at a UK level. We must establish clear channels of communication where we can ensure the particular needs of Welsh citizens are heard and are also then met.
Welsh: Lywydd, mae wedi bod yn bleser gwrando ar y cyfraniadau y prynhawn yma, a hoffwn ddiolch yn arbennig i Russell George am gadeirio ymchwiliad y pwyllgor i fynediad at fancio, yn ogystal ag Aelodau ei bwyllgor wrth gwrs. Mae'n amlwg fod llawer o ymdrech wedi mynd i gynhyrchu'r adroddiad rhagorol hwn, gan ymgysylltu â phartneriaid a rhanddeiliaid perthnasol, a hoffwn ddiolch i bob aelod o'r pwyllgor am eu gwaith caled. Fel y noda adroddiad y pwyllgor, nid yw colli banciau a'r gwasanaethau a gynigiant i ddinasyddion ac i fusnesau o'n strydoedd mawr yn broblem newydd. Fodd bynnag, mae graddau'r cau yn dal i waethygu ar raddfa frawychus, a chlywsom am nifer o gymunedau heddiw sydd wedi colli eu banciau stryd fawr yn ddiweddar oherwydd bod banciau traddodiadol yn cilio o bob cymuned ledled Cymru, a dyma pam y cynhwyswyd yr ymrwymiad, gan weithio gyda rhanddeiliaid, i archwilio'r egwyddor a sefydlu banc cymunedol i Gymru ym maniffesto arweinyddiaeth y Prif Weinidog. Fel y cadarnhaodd y Prif Weinidog yn gynharach y mis hwn, mae'r bartneriaeth a grëwyd gan Banc Cambria a'r Gymdeithas Banc Cynilion Cymunedol yn cwblhau cynllun prosiect manwl, ac mae asesiad cychwynnol o'r farchnad ac astudiaeth ddichonoldeb ar y gweill, gyda mewnbwn gan Banc Datblygu Cymru a Phrifysgol Caerdydd. Ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen yn fawr iawn at dderbyn yr adroddiad hwnnw. Nawr, rwy'n nodi bod gan y pwyllgor rai pryderon ynglŷn â dichonoldeb y cynnig bancio cymunedol a'i effaith bosibl ar undebau credyd yn arbennig, ond mae gwaith eisoes ar y gweill i sicrhau bod undebau credyd a'r banc cymunedol a chymdeithasau adeiladu'n cydweithio i ddod o hyd i'r atebion gorau i wella mynediad at wasanaethau bancio. Ac mae'r gwaith hwn yn canolbwyntio'n llwyr ar sicrhau cynhwysiant ariannol i bawb ym mhob rhan o'n gwlad. Nawr, mae swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru hefyd wedi cyfarfod â rhwydwaith undebau credyd Cymru i archwilio cyfleoedd i gydweithio lle bynnag y bo modd. Gall cau banciau a cholli peiriannau ATM am ddim mewn cymunedau effeithio'n negyddol ar lawer o bobl, ond yn enwedig ar y rheini sy'n agored i niwed ac wedi'u hallgáu'n ariannol. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn awyddus i sicrhau nad yw pobl ar incwm isel, yr henoed a phobl sy'n byw mewn cymunedau gwledig yn cael eu gadael ar ôl. Er y gallai bancio ar-lein a thrafodion heb arian parod fod yn opsiwn i lawer, rhaid inni beidio ag anghofio y bydd rhai pobl yn ei chael hi'n anodd, a bydd angen i grwpiau mwy agored i niwed gael mynediad at arian parod neu at ganghennau o fanciau yn lleol o hyd. Nawr, ein gweledigaeth ar gyfer cynhwysiant ariannol yw i bawb sy'n byw yng Nghymru allu cael mynediad at wasanaethau ariannol priodol a fforddiadwy. Ac mae adroddiad y pwyllgor yn cydnabod yn gywir fod llawer o elfennau'r mater hwn wedi'u cadw'n ôl gan Lywodraeth y DU. Nawr, sylwaf fod y pwyllgor yn galw ar Lywodraeth y DU a'r grŵp JACS i adolygu a yw'r safon mynediad at fancio yn ddigon cadarn i fynd i'r afael ag effaith cau banciau ar bobl sy'n agored i niwed, ar fentrau bach a chanolig a chymunedau lleol. Fodd bynnag, rydym wrthi'n chwilio, a byddwn yn parhau i chwilio, am gyfleoedd i ymgysylltu ac i ddylanwadu ar lefel y DU. Rhaid i ni sefydlu sianeli cyfathrebu clir lle gallwn sicrhau bod anghenion penodol dinasyddion Cymru yn cael eu clywed, ac yn cael eu diwallu wedyn hefyd.