English: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm making this statement following the written statement on 8 February this year made by the United Kingdom Government Cabinet Office. I welcome the appointment of Mr Justice Langstaff as chair of the UK inquiry into the infected blood scandal. As we're all aware, the infected blood scandal of the 1970s and 1980s is a tragedy that should never have happened and must never happen again. Many of those affected in Wales have campaigned long and hard for a meaningful inquiry to take place. Haemophilia Wales and the Assembly cross-party group have worked closely together in supporting all those affected by hepatitis C and/or HIV here in Wales and they're key stakeholders in ensuring that the voices of people affected in Wales are heard. I'm pleased to note that, in accordance with the wishes of those affected, the inquiry is to be judge-led. Mr Justice Langstaff will be the full-time chair of the inquiry from 1 May this year, following his retirement from the High Court. However, he has already begun his work in writing last week to those affected, their families and other stakeholders to consult on the inquiry's terms of reference. The consultation on the inquiry's terms of reference is now live on the inquiry's website. It is www.infectedbloodinquiry.org.uk, and everyone who has been affected or has a view is encouraged to respond. The closing date for the consultation is the 26 April this year. It is important that the inquiry will lead to a full report within the shortest possible timescale, taking into account the need for appropriate care and diligence. There are balances and trade-offs to be made in both the terms and the length of the inquiry. I have written to Mr Justice Langstaff to reiterate my previous concerns and those of the cross-party group and Haemophilia Wales. I've made it clear that I want those affected in Wales to be certain and feel assured that the inquiry will take full account of their evidence and provide answers to their long-standing questions. It is our collective expectation that the gathering of information and the hearing of the evidence will take place at suitable locations within each UK country and that the inquiry fully considers any Welsh language requirements in doing so. Many of those affected are elderly and infirm, and travel to London, for example, could be difficult, inconvenient and stressful. I am therefore pleased to hear that he has made contact with all scheme recipients in Wales. I've just received a copy of the letter direct from him as well. My officials and staff from our Wales infected blood service will provide advice and support to the inquiry team to ensure that the needs of those affected in Wales are best met. While the inquiry takes its course, it is essential that we continue to support those affected. So, it's timely for me to take this opportunity to update Members on the Wales infected blood support scheme, or the WIBSS. Working with our stakeholders, we designed and implemented the WIBSS in November last year. The scheme was administered by Velindre NHS Trust through the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership. Following my attendance at the cross-party group, chaired by my colleague Julie Morgan, I heard first hand the personal stories of those present. This, together with stakeholder events across Wales, proved invaluable in helping to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of the tragedy on people's lives and, in many cases, of course, their families. That was crucial in influencing the nature and scope of our new arrangements. Our scheme provides assistance over and above financial support to both those affected and their families. Early feedback suggests that this is improving our beneficiaries' sense of security, quality of life and care and that they are treated with the dignity they have the right to expect. Through the WIBSS advisers, they're able to receive support in accessing healthcare services and other appropriate financial benefits and public services. We've reduced the need for scheme recipients to apply for discretionary funding by including in the regular payments amounts towards additional expenses, such as increased winter fuel costs, costs associated with travel and any overnight accommodation required when accessing treatment, and help with insurance premiums. That came from listening directly to people affected during the consultation. The scheme also provides support to those who are bereaved, especially during the early years when distress and financial difficulty are likely to be at their greatest. Now that the scheme is administered in Wales, we should be able to gain a better understanding of the needs of the individuals affected. This will help ensure the arrangements can be kept under regular review. It was also very clear to me when meeting with individuals and the families of those affected that an inquiry was very important to them. They had been lobbying for many years, individually and through Haemophilia Wales and our own cross-party group, and, indeed, cross-party groups across other Parliaments in the United Kingdom as well, to get to the truth of what happened. I hope that they can now take some comfort that their efforts have paid off and the inquiry they have long fought for is going to happen. I also want to reassure them that I'll be following the inquiry's progress closely and I'll be seeking assurance that the views of those affected in Wales are being fully taken into account. I will, of course, update Members further when more information is available and the terms of reference have been agreed.
Welsh: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Rwy'n gwneud y datganiad hwn ar ôl y datganiad ysgrifenedig ar 8 Chwefror eleni gan Swyddfa Cabinet Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig. Rwy'n croesawu penodiad Mr Ustus Langstaff yn Gadeirydd ymchwiliad y DU i sgandal gwaed heintiedig. Fel yr ydym i gyd yn ei wybod, roedd sgandal gwaed heintiedig yr 1970au a'r 1980au yn drasiedi na ddylai byth fod wedi digwydd ac na ddylai byth ddigwydd eto. Mae llawer o'r bobl yr effeithiodd hyn arnynt yng Nghymru wedi ymgyrchu'n hir ac yn galed dros gynnal ymchwiliad ystyrlon. Mae Hemoffilia Cymru a grŵp trawsbleidiol y Cynulliad wedi cydweithio'n agos i gefnogi pawb sydd wedi dioddef hepatitis C a/neu HIV yma yng Nghymru ac maen nhw'n rhanddeiliaid allweddol i sicrhau y clywir lleisiau pobl yr effeithiwyd arnynt yng Nghymru. Rwy'n falch o nodi, yn unol â dymuniadau'r bobl yr effeithiwyd arnynt, yr arweinir yr ymchwiliad gan farnwr. Bydd Ustus Langstaff yn Gadeirydd amser llawn ar yr ymchwiliad o 1 Mai eleni ymlaen, wedi iddo ymddeol o'r Uchel Lys. Fodd bynnag, mae eisoes wedi dechrau ar ei waith drwy ysgrifennu yr wythnos diwethaf at y bobl yr effeithiwyd arnyn nhw, eu teuluoedd a rhanddeiliaid eraill i ymgynghori ynglŷn â chylch gorchwyl yr ymchwiliad. Mae'r ymgynghoriad ynglŷn a chylch gorchwyl yr ymchwiliad nawr yn fyw ar wefan yr ymchwiliad. Y wefan yw www.infectedbloodinquiry.org.uk, ac mae pawb y mae hyn wedi effeithio arnyn nhw neu unrhyw un sydd â barn yn cael eu hannog i ymateb. Dyddiad cau'r ymgynghoriad yw 26 Ebrill eleni. Mae'n bwysig y bydd yr ymchwiliad yn arwain at adroddiad llawn o fewn yr amser byrraf posibl, gan ystyried yr angen am ofal a diwydrwydd priodol. Mae angen taro cydbwysedd a chyfaddawdu o ran cylch gorchwyl a hyd yr ymchwiliad. Rwyf wedi ysgrifennu at Mr Ustus Langstaff i ailadrodd fy mhryderon blaenorol a phryderon y grŵp trawsbleidiol a Hemoffilia Cymru. Rwyf wedi ei gwneud yn glir fy mod i eisiau i'r bobl hynny yr effeithiwyd arnyn nhw yng Nghymru fod yn sicr a theimlo'n ffyddiog y bydd yr ymchwiliad yn rhoi ystyriaeth lawn i'w tystiolaeth ac yn ateb eu cwestiynau hirsefydlog. Ein disgwyliad ni ar y cyd yw y bydd casglu gwybodaeth a gwrando ar y dystiolaeth yn digwydd mewn mannau addas ym mhob gwlad yn y DU ac y bydd yr ymchwiliad yn ystyried unrhyw ofynion o ran y Gymraeg yn llawn wrth wneud hynny. Mae llawer o'r rhai yr effeithiwyd arnyn nhw yn oedrannus ac yn fethedig, a gallai teithio i Lundain, er enghraifft, fod yn anodd ac yn anghyfleus, a pheri straen. Rwyf felly'n falch o glywed ei fod wedi cysylltu â holl dderbynwyr y cynllun yng Nghymru. Rwyf innau newydd gael copi o'r llythyr yn uniongyrchol ganddo hefyd. Bydd fy swyddogion i a staff ein gwasanaeth gwaed heintiedig Cymru yn rhoi cyngor a chymorth i dîm yr ymchwiliad i sicrhau bod anghenion y bobl yr effeithiwyd arnyn nhw yng Nghymru'n cael eu diwallu cystal â phosibl. Tra bod yr ymchwiliad yn cael ei gynnal, mae'n hanfodol ein bod yn parhau i gefnogi'r bobl yr effeithiwyd arnynt. Felly, mae'n amserol imi gymryd y cyfle hwn i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i Aelodau am gynllun cymorth gwaed heintiedig Cymru, neu'r WIBSS. Buom yn gweithio gyda'n rhanddeiliaid i gynllunio'r WIBSS a'i roi ar waith ym mis Tachwedd y llynedd. Cafodd y cynllun ei weinyddu gan Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Felindre drwy Bartneriaeth Cydwasanaethau GIG Cymru. Ar ôl imi fod yn bresennol yn y grŵp trawsbleidiol, dan gadeiryddiaeth fy nghyd-Aelod Julie Morgan, clywais yn uniongyrchol straeon personol y bobl a oedd yn bresennol. Mae hyn, ynghyd â digwyddiadau rhanddeiliaid ledled Cymru, wedi bod yn amhrisiadwy o ran helpu i gael dealltwriaeth ddyfnach o effaith y drasiedi ar fywydau pobl ac, mewn llawer o achosion, wrth gwrs, ar eu teuluoedd. Roedd hynny'n hanfodol wrth ddylanwadu ar natur a chwmpas ein trefniadau newydd. Mae ein cynllun yn darparu cymorth ychwanegol at gymorth ariannol i'r bobl yr effeithiwyd arnynt ac i'w teuluoedd. Mae adborth cynnar yn awgrymu bod hyn yn gwella ymdeimlad ein buddiolwyr o ddiogelwch, eu hansawdd bywyd a'u gofal ac maen nhw'n cael eu trin gyda'r urddas y mae ganddyn nhw'r hawl i'w ddisgwyl. Mae cynghorwyr y WIBSS yn gallu eu cynorthwyo i fanteisio ar wasanaethau gofal iechyd a buddion ariannol a gwasanaethau cyhoeddus eraill priodol. Rydym wedi lleihau'r angen i dderbynwyr y cynllun wneud cais am arian dewisol drwy gynnwys symiau yn y taliadau rheolaidd tuag at gostau ychwanegol, fel costau tanwydd uwch yn y gaeaf, costau cysylltiedig â theithio ac unrhyw lety dros nos sydd ei angen wrth gael triniaeth, a chymorth gyda phremiymau yswiriant. Daeth hynny o wrando'n uniongyrchol ar bobl yr effeithiwyd arnynt yn ystod yr ymgynghoriad. Mae'r cynllun hefyd yn darparu cymorth i bobl sydd wedi cael profedigaeth, yn enwedig yn ystod y blynyddoedd cynnar pan fo trallod ac anhawster ariannol yn debygol o fod ar eu gwaethaf. Nawr bod y cynllun yn cael ei weinyddu yng Nghymru, dylem ni allu cael gwell dealltwriaeth o anghenion yr unigolion yr effeithiwyd arnynt. Bydd hyn yn helpu i sicrhau y gellir parhau i adolygu'r trefniadau'n rheolaidd. Roedd hefyd yn glir iawn imi wrth gyfarfod ag unigolion a theuluoedd y bobl yr effeithiwyd arnynt bod ymchwiliad yn bwysig iawn iddynt. Roeddent wedi bod yn lobïo ers blynyddoedd lawer, yn unigol a drwy Hemoffilia Cymru a'n grŵp trawsbleidiol ni, ac, yn wir, grwpiau trawsbleidiol ar draws Seneddau eraill yn y Deyrnas Unedig hefyd, i gael y gwir am yr hyn a ddigwyddodd. Rwy'n gobeithio y gallant nawr gael rhywfaint o gysur o'r ffaith bod eu hymdrechion wedi dwyn ffrwyth a bod yr ymchwiliad y maen nhw wedi ymladd amdano ers amser maith yn mynd i ddigwydd. Hoffwn hefyd roi sicrwydd iddynt y byddaf yn dilyn hynt yr ymchwiliad yn agos ac y byddaf yn gofyn am sicrwydd bod barn y bobl yr effeithiwyd arnynt yng Nghymru yn cael ei hystyried yn llawn. Byddaf, wrth gwrs, yn diweddaru'r Aelodau ymhellach pan fydd mwy o wybodaeth ar gael a phan fydd cytundeb ynglŷn â'r cylch gorchwyl.