English: I'd also like to join with many others in thanking the former children's commissioner, Dr Sally Holland, for her leadership as the commissioner in promoting and safeguarding the rights of children and young people in Wales. As chair of the cross-party group on children and families and children in our care, I just want to use my brief time to focus on children and young people who are looked after. Since 2003, the number of children and young people looked after has nearly doubled, and in the last decade, it has risen more than a quarter. I am particularly concerned about the provision of independent advocacy services for children and young people in residential care. We know that, as a result of the national approach to statutory advocacy, in place since July 2017, children and young people placed in local authority residential care are able to access independent advocacy. But that provision accounts for less and less of the total share of accommodation. In March 2019, just 23 out of a total of 178 children's homes were provided by local authorities. Evidence from Tros Gynnal Plant found that only 22 of the approximately 155 independent homes were actually providing independent advocacy. This is a real concern for me and, I'm sure, many others, Minister. Every residential home, whatever its status in terms of registration, should be required by law to provide an independent visiting advocacy service, as an added safeguard, ensuring that every child or young person has a personal advocate with whom they can communicate openly and without worry. Many of us, either professionally or in another capacity, have met young people who are in care or who are care experienced. The trauma and experiences that they go through, in terms of coming into care, then in terms of their placements, mean that they really feel voiceless. Independent advocacy services are vital to ensuring that they have that voice. So, I would be interested to hear more on this matter in response to the debate, both in extending this requirement to the independent sector, and strengthening the existing national model for local authority settings. The other matter that I would like to highlight is the use of unregulated placements. The commissioner's report highlights concerns with the widespread use of unregulated placements. I appreciate completely that these often arise from emergencies and breakdowns in placements, and having been a social worker for many years, I know the situation. But there is a real concern with the quality and standards of accommodation. This can vary from 'When I am Ready' placements, right through to hostels and bed and breakfast accommodation, the latter of which is totally inappropriate. While there are some excellent supportive settings, some young people are very vulnerable if living in poor accommodation with limited support. I understand that this is being considered as part of the work around the removal of profit from the sector, and on improving the range and availability of placements, especially for those with more complex needs. I do support this, and I'm really pleased that this is part of the programme for government. The commissioner, in her report, makes very clear recommendations about the scope of the work that needs to be undertaken, and I hope that you can respond, Minister, to that recommendation in this debate. Finally, as others have, can I wish the new commissioner, Rocio Cifuentes, the very best for her time in office? I look forward to working with her. There is a huge amount of work to be done for our children in building a brighter future. The COVID pandemic - both its direct impact on the lives of children and young people, and the decision making around how Wales responded to the pandemic - highlights just how important an independent champion for children and young people is. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Welsh: Hoffwn innau hefyd ymuno â nifer o bobl eraill i ddiolch i'r cyn-gomisiynydd plant, Dr Sally Holland, am ei harweinyddiaeth fel y comisiynydd wrth hybu a diogelu hawliau plant a phobl ifanc Cymru. Fel cadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar blant a theuluoedd a phlant dan ein gofal, rydw i eisiau defnyddio fy amser byr i ganolbwyntio ar blant a phobl ifanc sy'n derbyn gofal. Ers 2003, mae nifer y plant a phobl ifanc sy'n derbyn gofal wedi bron â dyblu, ac yn y degawd diwethaf, mae wedi codi mwy na chwarter. Rwy'n poeni'n benodol am ddarpariaeth gwasanaethau eiriolaeth annibynnol i blant a phobl ifanc mewn gofal preswyl. Rydym ni'n gwybod, o ganlyniad i'r dull cenedlaethol o ymdrin ag eiriolaeth statudol, sydd ar waith ers Gorffennaf 2017, fod plant a phobl ifanc sy'n cael eu gosod yng ngofal preswyl yr awdurdodau lleol yn gallu cael eiriolaeth annibynnol. Ond mae'r ddarpariaeth honno yn cyfrif am lai a llai o gyfanswm cyfran y llety. Ym mis Mawrth 2019, dim ond 23 allan o gyfanswm o 178 o gartrefi plant oedd yn cael eu darparu gan awdurdodau lleol. Yn ôl tystiolaeth Tros Gynnal Plant, dim ond 22 o'r tua 155 o gartrefi annibynnol oedd yn darparu eiriolaeth annibynnol mewn gwirionedd. Mae hyn yn bryder gwirioneddol i mi ac, rwy'n siŵr, i lawer o rai eraill, Gweinidog. Dylai fod yn ofynnol yn ôl y gyfraith i bob cartref preswyl, beth bynnag fo'i statws o ran cofrestru, ddarparu gwasanaeth eiriolaeth ymweld annibynnol, fel amddiffyniad ychwanegol, gan sicrhau bod gan bob plentyn neu berson ifanc eiriolwr personol y gallant gyfathrebu'n agored ag ef, a hynny heb boeni. Mae llawer ohonom ni, naill ai'n broffesiynol neu mewn capasiti arall, wedi cwrdd â phobl ifanc sydd mewn gofal neu sydd â phrofiad o ofal. Mae'r trawma a'r profiadau maen nhw'n mynd drwyddyn nhw, o ran dod i ofal, yna o ran eu lleoliadau, yn golygu eu bod nhw wir yn teimlo'n ddi-lais. Mae gwasanaethau eiriolaeth annibynnol yn hanfodol i sicrhau bod ganddyn nhw'r llais hwnnw. Felly, byddai'n ddiddorol clywed mwy ar y mater hwn mewn ymateb i'r ddadl, wrth ymestyn y gofyniad hwn i'r sector annibynnol, a chryfhau'r model cenedlaethol presennol ar gyfer lleoliadau awdurdodau lleol. Y mater arall yr hoffwn i dynnu sylw ato yw'r defnydd o leoliadau nad ydyn nhw'n cael eu rheoleiddio. Mae adroddiad y comisiynydd yn tynnu sylw at bryderon gyda'r defnydd eang o leoliadau nad ydyn nhw'n cael eu rheoleiddio. Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi'n llwyr fod y rhain yn aml yn codi o argyfyngau a lleoliadau yn chwalu, ac ar ôl bod yn weithiwr cymdeithasol am flynyddoedd lawer, rwy'n ymwybodol o'r sefyllfa. Ond mae pryder gwirioneddol gydag ansawdd a safonau'r llety. Gall hyn amrywio o leoliadau 'Pan fydda i'n Barod', hyd at hosteli a llety gwely a brecwast, ac mae'r olaf o'r rhain yn gwbl amhriodol. Er bod rhai lleoliadau cefnogol ardderchog, mae rhai pobl ifanc yn fregus iawn os ydyn nhw'n byw mewn llety gwael gyda chefnogaeth gyfyngedig. Rwy'n deall bod hyn yn cael ei ystyried fel rhan o'r gwaith o ran tynnu elw o'r sector, ac ar wella ystod ac argaeledd lleoliadau, yn enwedig i'r rhai sydd ag anghenion mwy cymhleth. Rwy'n cefnogi hyn, ac rwy'n falch iawn bod hyn yn rhan o'r rhaglen lywodraethu. Mae'r comisiynydd, yn ei hadroddiad, yn gwneud argymhellion clir iawn am gwmpas y gwaith sydd angen ei wneud, ac rwy'n gobeithio y gallwch chi ymateb, Gweinidog, i'r argymhelliad hwnnw yn y ddadl hon. Yn olaf, fel mae eraill wedi'i wneud, a gaf ddymuno'r gorau i'r comisiynydd newydd, Rocio Cifuentes, am ei chyfnod yn y swydd? Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at weithio gyda hi. Mae llawer iawn o waith i'w wneud i'n plant er mwyn creu dyfodol mwy disglair. Mae pandemig COVID - ei effaith uniongyrchol ar fywydau plant a phobl ifanc, a'r penderfyniadau ynghylch sut y gwnaeth Cymru ymateb i'r pandemig - yn amlygu pa mor bwysig yw hyrwyddwr annibynnol i blant a phobl ifanc. Diolch yn fawr iawn.