English: Thank you very much. May I just say a word of thanks to Simon Thomas and the other members of the Finance Committee for the work that they have already done in preparing this Bill, and to present the Bill today? The Welsh Government appreciates the role of the public services ombudsman. It provides an important service in being a means to assist citizens who haven't received the level of service from the public sector that they have a right to expect. The Welsh Government will look positively at measures that will assist the ombudsman to deliver his role. Therefore, for example, we would welcome the proposal that he should be able to take oral complaints. This could assist the most vulnerable people in our society, including those who have protected characteristics. I am sure that the committees with responsibility for scrutinising the Bill will also want to consider how those people who do have protected characteristics will be supported in interpreting the proposed legislation. On the other hand, Deputy Presiding Officer, in relation to certain other aspects of the Bill, the Welsh Government does have some concerns that expanding the role of the ombudsman could lead to people believing that public services are being overregulated in Wales, and it could lead to overlap or confusion in the roles of various regulators. We look forward to holding further discussions on these issues and some other issues contained within the Bill during the scrutiny process. I'm sure you would expect me to say this as the Cabinet Secretary for finance, but I should also add that we do have some concerns about the increasing cost that would have to be borne as a result of this legislation, at a time when the rest of our public services have to tighten their belts. Every additional pound spent here, or any savings that aren't made, is a pound that cannot be transferred to front-line services. We will also need to look further at this aspect during the scrutiny process, but I do believe that we need to be entirely assured that Wales would get substantial benefit for the additional costs incurred. In the meantime, as the Bill is formally laid, the Welsh Government looks forward to playing a constructive part, and to take a full part in the scrutiny process. Thank you very much.
Welsh: Diolch yn fawr. A gaf ddweud i ddechrau gair o ddiolch i Simon Thomas ac aelodau eraill y Pwyllgor Cyllid am y gwaith maen nhw wedi'i wneud yn barod i baratoi'r Bil ar hyn o bryd, ac i gyflwyno'r Bil heddiw? Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwerthfawrogi rôl yr ombwdsmon gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Mae'n darparu gwasanaeth pwysig wrth fod yn gyfrwng i helpu dinasyddion sydd heb dderbyn y lefel o wasanaeth gan y sector cyhoeddus y mae ganddyn nhw yr hawl i'w ddisgwyl. Bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn edrych mewn modd cadarnhaol ar fesurau a fydd yn helpu'r ombwdsmon i gyflawni ei rôl e. Felly, er enghraifft, byddem yn croesawu'r cynnig y dylai fod yn gallu derbyn cwynion ar lafar. Gall hyn helpu'r bobl fwyaf agored i niwed mewn cymdeithas, gan gynnwys y rheiny sydd â nodweddion gwarchodedig. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd y pwyllgorau fydd â'r cyfrifoldeb i graffu ar y Bil hefyd am ystyried sut y bydd y bobl sydd â nodweddion gwarchodedig yn cael eu cefnogi i ddehongli'r ddeddfwriaeth arfaethedig. Ar y llaw arall, Dirprwy Lywydd, mewn perthynas â rhai agweddau eraill ar y Bil, mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru bryderon y gallai ehangu rôl yr ombwdsmon arwain at bobl yn credu bod gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn cael eu gor-reoleiddio yng Nghymru, ac y gallai arwain at orgyffwrdd neu ddryswch yn rolau gwahanol reoleiddwyr. Edrychwn ymlaen at gynnal rhagor o drafodaethau ar y materion hyn a rhai pethau eraill yn y Bil yn ystod y broses graffu. Rydych chi siŵr o fod yn disgwyl i mi ddweud hyn, fel Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros gyllid, ond dylwn hefyd ychwanegu fod gennym bryderon am y gost gynyddol a fyddai'n cael ei hysgwyddo yn sgil y ddeddfwriaeth hon, ar adeg pan fo'n rhaid i weddill y gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ddal yn ôl. Mae pob punt ychwanegol a chaiff ei gwario yma, neu arbedion na chaiff eu gwneud, yn bunt na ellir ei throsglwyddo i wasanaethau rheng flaen. Bydd hefyd angen edrych yn bellach ar yr agwedd hon yn ystod y broses graffu, ond credaf fod angen i ni fod yn hollol sicr y byddai Cymru yn cael buddion sylweddol am y costau ychwanegol a ysgwyddir. Yn y cyfamser, wrth i'r Bil cael ei gyflwyno'n ffurfiol, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn edrych ymlaen at gymryd rhan adeiladol ac agos yn y broses graffu sydd ar y gweill. Diolch yn fawr.