English: This inquiry followed the work that my colleague Siân Gwenllian undertook when she was previously a member of this committee in highlighting some of the difficulties that were created by the poor drafting of the original regulations. Problems had arisen when it transpired that the Welsh Government was unable to clarify details when local authorities faced difficulties in implementing the scheme. So, I'm very pleased that our committee recommended that the Welsh Government updates its guidance to local authorities to ensure that there is clarity so that eligible organisations can apply for a blue badge in their own right. And, of course, I'm pleased that the Welsh Government has accepted this recommendation. However, originally the Welsh Government rejected nine out of the 19 recommendations that were made by the committee, which is actually staggering. Sensing how bad a look that might be, they've subsequently agreed to accept in principle a further three recommendations, bringing the total number of rejected recommendations to just under a third of the total. The rejected recommendations include all staff involved in assessments being trained in the social model of disability and for the legislation to provide for a review process for people to be able to challenge a decision. Now, how many times have we seen Labour Assembly Members in this place note the unfairness of assessments for disability when they're conducted by the Department for Work and Pensions? How many times have we recognised the importance of appeals against their decisions and the importance of ensuring that staff understand the needs and barriers that people face? We repeatedly find that there is a problem with the public sector as a whole when it comes to assessments of disabled people, and it's only when we have robust appeals processes and staff who are properly trained that we find that these problems are reduced. So, I'm disappointed that these recommendations have been rejected. And on the reason given - that you don't have the time to do it - well, the facts show that in this Assembly term, there have been fewer pieces of legislation than there were in the last Assembly term, so I don't accept that as an excuse. It's more a case of lethargy and the Government regarding this as a trivial issue it thought it had solved with its poorly drafted regulations. I, and I'm sure many other Assembly Members too, meet plenty of people through surgeries, who make contact with my office - people who really need a blue badge. There are always more requests than the council can meet. Many councils seem to only be issuing a limited number of blue badges every year. Yes, I know that concerns about fraud have to be tackled and, yes, I know that land available for parking is limited, but we also have to make sure that Welsh citizens who may have illnesses, disabilities or mobility problems for other reasons are enabled to go out and live life as fully as they possibly can. We're all aware of the growing mental health epidemic that is linked to increasing loneliness. A blue badge can mean the difference between having a life or being a prisoner in your own home. So, I very much hope that the Government will reflect on that and recognise their responsibilities in terms of preventing mental ill health and loneliness whilst considering this blue badge scheme.
Welsh: Dilynodd yr ymchwiliad hwn y gwaith a wnaeth fy nghyd-Aelod, Siân Gwenllian, pan oedd yn aelod o'r pwyllgor hwn o'r blaen drwy dynnu sylw at rai o'r anawsterau a gafodd eu creu gan wendidau drafftio'r rheoliadau gwreiddiol. Roedd problemau wedi codi pan ddaeth yn amlwg nad oedd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gallu egluro manylion pan oedd awdurdodau lleol yn wynebu anawsterau gyda gweithredu'r cynllun. Felly, rwy'n falch iawn fod ein pwyllgor wedi argymell bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn diweddaru ei chanllawiau i awdurdodau lleol er mwyn sicrhau eglurder fel y gall sefydliadau cymwys wneud cais am fathodyn glas yn eu hawl eu hunain. Ac wrth gwrs, rwy'n falch fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi derbyn yr argymhelliad hwn. Fodd bynnag, yn wreiddiol, gwrthododd Llywodraeth Cymru naw o'r 19 argymhelliad a wnaed gan y pwyllgor, ac mae hynny'n syfrdanol mewn gwirionedd. Gan synhwyro pa mor wael y gallai hynny edrych, maent wedi cytuno wedi hynny i dderbyn tri argymhelliad pellach mewn egwyddor, gan ddod â chyfanswm yr argymhellion a wrthodwyd i ychydig llai na thraean o'r cyfanswm. Mae'r argymhellion a wrthodwyd yn cynnwys hyfforddi'r holl staff sydd ynghlwm wrth asesiadau yn y model cymdeithasol o anabledd ac i'r ddeddfwriaeth ddarparu ar gyfer proses adolygu i bobl allu herio penderfyniad. Nawr, sawl gwaith y gwelsom Aelodau Cynulliad Llafur yn y lle hwn yn nodi annhegwch asesiadau ar gyfer anabledd pan gânt eu cynnal gan yr Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau? Sawl gwaith y gwnaethom gydnabod pwysigrwydd apeliadau yn erbyn eu penderfyniadau a phwysigrwydd sicrhau bod staff yn deall yr anghenion a'r rhwystrau y mae pobl yn eu hwynebu? Rydym yn canfod dro ar ôl tro fod problem gyda'r sector cyhoeddus yn ei gyfanrwydd mewn perthynas ag asesu pobl anabl, a dim ond pan fydd gennym brosesau apelio cadarn a staff wedi'u hyfforddi'n briodol y gwelwn fod y problemau hyn wedi'u lleihau. Felly, rwy'n siomedig fod yr argymhellion hyn wedi'u gwrthod. A'r rheswm a roddwyd - nad oes gennych amser i'w wneud - wel, mae'r ffeithiau'n dangos, yn nhymor y Cynulliad hwn, fod llai o ddeddfwriaeth wedi bod nag a gafwyd yn nhymor diwethaf y Cynulliad, felly nid wyf yn derbyn yr esgus hwnnw. Mae'n ymwneud mwy â syrthni a'r Llywodraeth yn ystyried hwn fel mater dibwys y credai ei bod wedi'i ddatrys gyda'i rheoliadau a ddrafftiwyd yn wael. Rwyf fi, a llawer o Aelodau Cynulliad eraill hefyd, rwy'n siŵr, yn cyfarfod â digon o bobl trwy gymorthfeydd, neu sy'n cysylltu â fy swyddfa - pobl sydd wir angen bathodyn glas. Mae yna bob amser fwy o geisiadau nag y gall y cyngor ddarparu ar eu cyfer. Mae'n ymddangos nad yw llawer o gynghorau ond yn cyhoeddi nifer gyfyngedig o fathodynnau glas bob blwyddyn. Gwn fod yn rhaid mynd i'r afael â phryderon ynghylch twyll a gwn fod y tir sydd ar gael ar gyfer parcio yn gyfyngedig, ond mae'n rhaid i ni hefyd sicrhau bod dinasyddion Cymru a allai fod â salwch, anableddau neu broblemau symudedd am resymau eraill yn gallu mynd allan a byw bywyd mor llawn ag y gallant. Rydym i gyd yn ymwybodol o'r epidemig iechyd meddwl cynyddol sy'n gysylltiedig ag unigrwydd cynyddol. Gall bathodyn glas olygu'r gwahaniaeth rhwng cael bywyd neu fod yn garcharor yn eich cartref eich hun. Felly, rwy'n mawr obeithio y bydd y Llywodraeth yn myfyrio ar hynny ac yn cydnabod eu cyfrifoldebau o ran atal salwch meddwl ac unigrwydd wrth ystyried y cynllun bathodyn glas hwn.