English: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I say I welcome this report and I'm very grateful to the committee and its staff both for the report and for the constructive and collaborative approach taken during the inquiry? The report is fair and balanced, recognising the challenges we face and noting where improvements have been made, whilst also suggesting where we might go further to support our most disadvantaged learners. I am pleased to have been able to accept the vast majority of the committee's recommendations, a sign of the priority that this Government places on supporting all learners to achieve their potential. That's absolutely why we must continue to prioritise targeted support and keep striving to break the cycle of poverty and disadvantage. Many of you here in this Chamber will have heard me say more than once that the PDG is both a policy and a personal commitment of mine as well as of this Government, but more important than what I say is what schools think about the PDG - that's more important - and they agree. The recent evaluation found that schools find the PDG invaluable and I am frequently told by headteachers and classroom teachers alike of the difference that it is making on a daily basis. In the previous half term, I have visited schools in Rhyl, Bangor and Merthyr Tydfil, and when I have asked them what's the most important thing I can do for them, they have all consistently said, 'You must keep the PDG.' Can I just briefly comment on some of the issues that have been raised by other people in the debate? Julie Morgan is absolutely right to talk about the issues affecting adopted children. I am particularly keen to continue to work alongside David Melding, who is not in his seat, to look at the educational achievement of looked-after children. We have a mountain to climb in that regard and I make no apologies for acknowledging the challenges we still face as a Government for that cohort of children, for the need to redouble our efforts in that regard, and I am keen, Julie, to do what we can to better identify children who are adopted in our school system and look at ways of supporting their education. I have to say, with regard to the eligibility of free school meals and the consequences of universal credit, let me be absolutely clear: as a result of universal credit - something that this Government has not asked for - we find ourselves in a very challenging position. If all people entitled to universal credit were to receive free school meals, then we would simply have more than half of our cohort of children in receipt of free school meals, and there are basic issues around affordability as far as that is concerned. Under the proposals consulted on recently, more children in Wales will be eligible for free school meals than are currently eligible. If there are some children whose eligibility may change as a result of universal credit, they will have cohort protection. And I have to say to Janet Finch-Saunders, of all people in this Chamber to lecture me about the fact that she's got families coming forward saying that they're struggling, I would direct her to her own colleagues in London who are pursuing this policy. And I have to say, Janet, it's pretty rich of you to say that we need to do more to support these families when it is the policies of your Government in Westminster that are causing these difficulties.
Welsh: Diolch yn fawr iawn, Ddirprwy Lywydd. A gaf fi ddweud fy mod yn croesawu'r adroddiad hwn ac rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i'r pwyllgor a'i staff am yr adroddiad ac am y dull adeiladol a chydweithredol o weithio a welwyd yn ystod yr ymchwiliad? Mae'r adroddiad yn deg a chytbwys, yn cydnabod yr heriau a wynebwn ac yn nodi lle y gwnaed gwelliannau, gan awgrymu hefyd lle y gallem fynd ymhellach i gefnogi ein dysgwyr mwyaf difreintiedig. Rwy'n falch o fod wedi gallu derbyn y mwyafrif helaeth o argymhellion y pwyllgor, arwydd o'r flaenoriaeth y mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn ei rhoi i gynorthwyo pob dysgwr i gyrraedd eu potensial. Dyna'n union pam y mae'n rhaid inni barhau i flaenoriaethu cymorth wedi'i dargedu a dal ati i ymdrechu i dorri cylch tlodi ac anfantais. Bydd llawer ohonoch yma yn y Siambr wedi fy nghlywed yn dweud fwy nag unwaith fod y grant datblygu disgyblion yn bolisi a hefyd yn ymrwymiad personol ar fy rhan i a'r Llywodraeth hon, ond yn bwysicach na'r hyn rwy'n ei ddweud, mae'r hyn y mae ysgolion yn ei feddwl o'r grant datblygu disgyblion - mae hynny'n fwy pwysig - ac maent yn cytuno. Canfu'r gwerthusiad diweddar fod ysgolion yn ystyried bod y grant datblygu disgyblion yn amhrisiadwy ac yn aml bydd penaethiaid ac athrawon dosbarth fel ei gilydd yn dweud wrthyf am y gwahaniaeth y mae'n ei wneud ar sail ddyddiol. Yn ystod yr hanner tymor diwethaf, ymwelais ag ysgolion yn y Rhyl, Bangor a Merthyr Tudful, a phan ofynnaf iddynt beth yw'r peth pwysicaf y gallaf ei wneud iddynt, maent i gyd yn dweud yn gyson, 'Rhaid i chi gadw'r grant datblygu disgyblion.' A gaf fi wneud sylwadau'n fyr ar rai o'r materion a godwyd gan bobl eraill yn y ddadl? Mae Julie Morgan yn llygad ei lle yn sôn am y materion sy'n effeithio ar blant wedi'u mabwysiadu. Rwy'n arbennig o awyddus i barhau i weithio ochr yn ochr â David Melding, nad yw yn ei sedd, i edrych ar gyflawniad addysgol plant sy'n derbyn gofal. Mae gennym fynydd i'w ddringo yn hynny o beth ac nid wyf yn ymddiheuro am gydnabod yr heriau rydym yn dal i'w hwynebu fel Llywodraeth ar gyfer y garfan honno o blant, am yr angen i atgyfnerthu ein hymdrechion yn hynny o beth, ac rwy'n awyddus, Julie, i wneud yr hyn a allwn i nodi'n well pa blant sydd wedi'u mabwysiadu yn ein system ysgolion ac edrych ar ffyrdd o gefnogi eu haddysg. Rhaid imi ddweud, o ran cymhwysedd i gael prydau ysgol am ddim a chanlyniadau credyd cynhwysol, gadewch imi fod yn gwbl glir: o ganlyniad i'r credyd cynhwysol - rhywbeth nad yw'r Llywodraeth hon wedi gofyn amdano - cawn ein hunain mewn sefyllfa anodd iawn. Pe bai'r holl bobl sydd â hawl i gredyd cynhwysol yn cael prydau ysgol am ddim, ni fyddai bron hanner ein carfan o blant yn cael prydau ysgol am ddim, a cheir problemau sylfaenol yn ymwneud â fforddiadwyedd yn hynny o beth. O dan y cynigion yr ymgynghorwyd arnynt yn ddiweddar, bydd mwy o blant yng Nghymru yn gymwys am brydau ysgol am ddim nag sy'n gymwys ar hyn o bryd. Os ceir rhai plant y gallai eu cymhwysedd newid o ganlyniad i'r credyd cynhwysol, byddant yn cael amddiffyniad carfannau penodol. A rhaid imi ddweud wrth Janet Finch-Saunders, o'r holl bobl yn y Siambr hon i roi pregeth imi am y ffaith bod ganddi deuluoedd yn dweud eu bod yn ei chael hi'n anodd, buaswn yn ei chyfeirio at ei chydweithwyr yn Llundain sy'n dilyn y polisi hwn. A rhaid imi ddweud, Janet, mae wyneb gennych i ddweud bod angen inni wneud mwy i gefnogi'r teuluoedd hyn gan mai polisïau eich Llywodraeth yn San Steffan sy'n achosi'r anawsterau hynny.