English: Can I first thank Rhys ab Owen for tabling this important debate and for inviting me to support his legislative proposal? I am very pleased to see cross-party support for the motion before us today, and I think this underlines the seriousness with which all of us across this Chamber are approaching this issue. My contribution to the debate is focused on issues that are facing a number of my constituents that have been raised with me. In saying this, I would like to reflect on all of the work that has been carried out by my colleague Janet Finch-Saunders, who leads on building safety for the Welsh Conservative group. As I've mentioned, Deputy Llywydd, a number of constituents who own properties in the Celestia development in Cardiff Bay have contacted my office about their concerns about the scale of the cladding issues facing residents. In fact, as I understand it, some residents have recently been asked to pay a service charge of up to £20,000 next year to begin repair works on the development. This level of subsidy will be required for a number of years to meet the ongoing work that will be needed to ensure the safety of the building. I'm sure that Members from across the Chamber will agree with me that this is grossly unfair. Residents, many of whom simply cannot afford to pay anywhere near that level of service charge, should not have to foot the bill for something that is not their fault. Meanwhile, another constituent has said that they are unable to sell their property due to these issues, and this has had a significant impact on their retirement plans. Their money is tied up in what they call 'worthless homes'. Now, I understand that this is a complex issue that requires close working between Welsh and UK Governments, therefore, I think Members would appreciate an update on any recent discussions that the Minister may have had with her counterparts from across the UK on this issue. Residents have said to me that the establishment of Welsh building fund is urgently needed, so that developments like Celestia can begin work to address their fire and construction defects. Minister, would you be able to confirm whether it is your intention to provide financial support directly to residents to support them to meet ongoing costs and when this will be made available? Ultimately, however, action is needed to prevent these issues from happening again. We really need to see new legislation to not only tighten up the rules around the use of cladding, but to also ensure that the developers retain legal responsibility for addressing defects that are as a result of the design and construction of a building. In closing, I would like to reflect on the words of a constituent who has given me permission to quote their feelings on this matter. They say, 'The mental health of residents is being damaged. In January 2022, our wallets will be damaged too by virtue of a 200 per cent increase in the service charge. This inflated request is likely to remain for around five years. The consequence: people will lose their homes, people will lose properties where bought to provide a pension, and remember that the only people who are suffering are the innocent.' I hope all Members will be supporting this important proposal. Thank you.
Welsh: A gaf fi ddiolch yn gyntaf i Rhys ab Owen am gyflwyno'r ddadl bwysig hon ac am fy ngwahodd i gefnogi ei gynnig deddfwriaethol? Rwy'n falch iawn o weld cefnogaeth drawsbleidiol i'r cynnig sydd ger ein bron heddiw, a chredaf fod hyn yn tanlinellu pa mor ddifrifol yw'r mater hwn i bob un ohonom ar draws y Siambr. Mae fy nghyfraniad i'r ddadl yn canolbwyntio ar faterion sy'n wynebu nifer o fy etholwyr ac y maent wedi'u dwyn i fy sylw. Wrth ddweud hyn, hoffwn nodi'r holl waith a wnaed gan fy nghyd-Aelod, Janet Finch-Saunders, sy'n arwain ar ddiogelwch adeiladau ar ran grŵp y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig. Fel rwyf wedi sôn, Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae nifer o etholwyr sy'n berchen ar eiddo yn natblygiad Celestia ym Mae Caerdydd wedi cysylltu â fy swyddfa i fynegi eu pryderon ynghylch maint y problemau cladin sy'n wynebu preswylwyr. Yn wir, yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallaf, gofynnwyd yn ddiweddar i rai preswylwyr dalu tâl gwasanaeth o hyd at £20,000 y flwyddyn nesaf er mwyn dechrau gwaith atgyweirio ar y datblygiad. Bydd angen y lefel hon o gymhorthdal am nifer o flynyddoedd er mwyn cyflawni'r gwaith parhaus y bydd ei angen i sicrhau diogelwch yr adeilad. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd Aelodau o bob rhan o'r Siambr yn cytuno bod hyn yn eithriadol o annheg. Bydd llawer o'r preswylwyr yn methu fforddio talu unrhyw beth yn debyg i'r lefel honno o dâl gwasanaeth, ac ni ddylent orfod talu'r bil am rywbeth nad yw'n fai arnynt hwy. Yn y cyfamser, mae etholwr arall wedi dweud nad ydynt yn gallu gwerthu eu heiddo oherwydd y problemau hyn, ac mae wedi cael effaith sylweddol ar eu cynlluniau ymddeol. Mae eu harian wedi'i glymu yn yr hyn y maent yn eu galw'n 'gartrefi diwerth'. Nawr, deallaf fod hwn yn fater cymhleth sy'n galw am gydweithio agos rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU, felly rwy'n credu y byddai'r Aelodau'n gwerthfawrogi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am unrhyw drafodaethau diweddar y gallai'r Gweinidog fod wedi'u cael gyda'i swyddogion cyfatebol ar draws y DU ar y mater hwn. Mae preswylwyr wedi dweud wrthyf fod angen sefydlu cronfa adeiladu yng Nghymru ar frys, fel y gall datblygiadau fel Celestia ddechrau gweithio i fynd i'r afael â'u diffygion tân ac adeiladu. Weinidog, a allwch gadarnhau a yw'n fwriad gennych i ddarparu cymorth ariannol yn uniongyrchol i breswylwyr i'w cynorthwyo i dalu costau parhaus a phryd y bydd y cymorth hwn ar gael? Yn y pen draw, fodd bynnag, mae angen gweithredu i atal y pethau hyn rhag digwydd eto. Mae gwir angen inni weld deddfwriaeth newydd sydd nid yn unig yn tynhau'r rheolau ynghylch defnyddio cladin ond sydd hefyd yn sicrhau bod y datblygwyr yn cadw'r cyfrifoldeb cyfreithiol dros fynd i'r afael â diffygion o ganlyniad i gynllun ac adeiladwaith adeilad. I gloi, hoffwn nodi geiriau etholwr sydd wedi rhoi caniatâd imi ddyfynnu eu teimladau ar y mater hwn. Maent yn dweud, 'Mae iechyd meddwl preswylwyr yn cael ei niweidio. Ym mis Ionawr 2022, bydd niwed i'n waledi hefyd o ganlyniad i gynnydd o 200 y cant yn y tâl gwasanaeth. Mae'r cais chwyddedig hwn yn debygol o barhau am oddeutu pum mlynedd. Y canlyniad: bydd pobl yn colli eu cartrefi, bydd pobl yn colli eiddo a brynwyd i ddarparu pensiwn, a chofiwch mai'r unig bobl sy'n dioddef yw'r rhai diniwed.' Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd pob Aelod yn cefnogi'r cynnig pwysig hwn. Diolch.