English: Diolch, Llywydd, and I move the motion tabled in my name. Llywydd, it feels like a long time ago that the Senedd unanimously passed a motion for a committee to urgently review the Welsh Government's Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021. And that's because it was. The Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee took this task extremely seriously, agreeing to embark on this review at our first meeting. However, as Members will be aware, the committee's report was delayed because of a judicial review into the legality of the regulations, which was out of the committee's hands. That judicial review was important to this debate, not just to explain why the committee's report took so long to produce, but also to highlight just how significant these regulations are. Whilst all regulations we vote on are important, these agricultural pollution regulations affect things that are core to sustaining life in Wales - food production, our water quality and the wider environment. The Welsh Government believe that the regulations will ultimately reduce pollution in our rivers, avoid pollution swapping and prevent or minimise increased losses of nutrients in the environment. The Minister made it very clear that by taking this approach the regulations deliver against a wide range of Wales's responsibilities and provide a holistic response to environmental challenges related to agricultural production. Nevertheless, in order to implement these regulations, many farmers will be required to undertake compliance work, which will include significant construction work at a significant cost, and that could threaten their viability. Therefore, it's crucial that these regulations set the right balance between protecting our natural environment and maintaining a workable regulatory system for Welsh farmers. Now, before I run through the report and its recommendations, I just want to highlight the Welsh Government's response to our report and its relevance to this debate. The Welsh Government's response was due on 14 September, and yet it was eventually laid on 5 October, which was the absolute deadline for inclusion on today's Plenary agenda. This delay severely hampered Members' ability to scrutinise the Government's response, and as such it has an impact on this debate. Therefore, I sincerely hope that in the future all Ministers will reflect on the importance of responding to Senedd committee reports in a timely manner, so that we can have fully informed debates on Senedd committee reports. Now, the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee launched a consultation on the regulations, which ran over the summer of 2021, and a wide range of stakeholders - including anglers, farmers and environmental organisations - responded to the consultation. Members will not be surprised to know that the regulations have proved controversial. In response to our consultation, farmers have referred to them as 'draconian' and 'punitive', and they raised concerns that they will be prohibitively expensive to implement and may push farms out of business. On the other hand, we received evidence from environmental organisations and anglers who welcomed the regulations, arguing that they are long overdue. They told us that the current system does not deter the worst agricultural polluters, and that action in the form of these regulations went some way to curb the pollution in our rivers. So, as a committee, we were acutely aware that these regulations needed to strike the right balance and were as effective as possible. Once the judicial review had concluded, the committee was able to continue with our inquiry and lay our report. Llywydd, it contains 10 recommendations, and, as time is limited this afternoon, I'd like to concentrate on three specific areas: support for implementation, derogations, and concerns around farming by calendar. Firstly, one of the pressing issues raised was the cost to farmers of implementing these regulations, and it was made pretty clear to the committee that farms could be put out of business. Therefore, I was pleased to see a commitment from the Welsh Government of an additional £20 million to help farmers implement these regulations, as was made clear in the written statement that accompanied the Welsh Government's response to the committee's report. I'm also pleased to see a commitment from the Welsh Government to provide the committee with a detailed breakdown of the provisions being made, including direct financial support and additional funding to advisory services. And perhaps in responding to this debate, the Minister will confirm when the committee can expect that information. Similarly, there needs to be support for public bodies. Natural Resources Wales have estimated that they will require 60 additional staff to deliver the bare minimum, with possibly over 200 staff members needed to deliver the full product of enforcement around these regulations. Of course, a patchy, under-resourced enforcement regime will give us the worst of both worlds, and I was a little concerned to read in the Government's response that the service level agreement for the regulations has not yet been agreed by Natural Resources Wales and the Welsh Government. Surely Natural Resources Wales will need time to recruit and train additional staff, and so it's vital that a service level agreement is put in place as soon as possible. So, I do hope the Minister will give us an update on its development and any further information she has on how long it may take Natural Resources Wales to be in a position to enforce these regulations. Llywydd, the committee also received some concerns regarding derogations. We were concerned that the withdrawal of the derogation for qualifying grassland farms would put Welsh farmers at a competitive disadvantage, and so we recommended that the Welsh Government reintroduces the derogation that allowed qualifying grassland farms to spread up to 250 kg per hectare of nitrogen. Farming unions warned that the decision not to include the derogation could require destocking on many Welsh farms, with impacts on farm viability, critical mass within the supply chain and employment, and that the lower rate of 170 kg per hectare could lead to the offshoring of production to countries with lower standards. Therefore, I'm pleased to see, in the written statement accompanying the Government's response, that Welsh farms will now be able to apply for a licence to spread a higher amount of nitrogen. And I do hope the Minister will today provide assurances to Welsh farmers that this measure will not result in further bureaucracy for them. Finally, I want to mention farming by calendar. Part 5 of the Welsh Government's regulations stipulates closed periods, when spreading is prohibited. And whilst there are exceptions for some holding and soil types, the closed period runs from October to January, with some further restrictions running until the end of February. The committee heard strong arguments about the importance of flexibility for farmers in when they spread slurry, and that was really reinforced to us during our committee trip to the Agriculture Research Centre at Gelli Aur in Carmarthenshire. We had already heard great things about their work on slurry processing and the use of technology to determine the best time to spread. During the visit, we were shown equipment that supports an app the centre has been developing. It was an impressive combination of a weather station and sensors that monitor the conditions, where the information gathered is fed into an app that processes the data and gives farmers a red, amber or green status for spreading slurry. We were told that the system was tested during the 2021-22 closed period, and the findings were that the app was showing a green status for spreading through February and March, meaning that the weather and ground conditions meant it was fine to spread slurry. However, almost as soon as the closed period ended, the app flagged the conditions as red, indicating it was not suitable for spreading slurry. Of course, we are all very aware of how unpredictable the weather can be, so it's vital that farmers are allowed to move over to a technology-backed system based on real world, live conditions, not a calendar system based on seasonal averages, as soon as possible. The committee recommended that the Welsh Government should prioritise any suitable alternative proposals that utilise technology rather than closed periods for spreading, and, whilst I very much welcome the Welsh Government's openness to new suggestions, I am disappointed their response puts the onus on the farming community rather than the Government proactively pursuing technological alternatives to farming by calendar. Therefore, I hope the Minister will reflect on this and give it further consideration. Llywydd, the committee's report covers everything from water quality data to enforcement and incorporating the regulations into national minimum standards, and I urge every Member in this Chamber to read our report. We have asked the Welsh Government to review the effectiveness of alternative technological measures, to be fully transparent about the funding support available to farmers, and to provide assurances that there is adequate resourcing and guidance for Natural Resources Wales to monitor and enforce these regulations. As a committee, we intend to keep reviewing these regulations in the months and years ahead to ensure their effectiveness, and so, on that note, Llywydd, I look forward to Members' contributions to this debate. Diolch.
Welsh: Diolch, Lywydd, ac rwy'n gwneud y cynnig a gyflwynwyd yn fy enw. Lywydd, mae'n teimlo fel amser maith er pan basiodd y Senedd gynnig yn unfrydol dros gael pwyllgor i adolygu Rheoliadau Adnoddau Dŵr Llywodraeth Cymru (Rheoli Llygredd Amaethyddol) (Cymru) 2021 ar fyrder. A'r rheswm am hynny yw oherwydd ei bod hi'n amser maith ers hynny. Roedd Pwyllgor yr Economi, Masnach, a Materion Gwledig o ddifrif ynglŷn â'r gwaith, ac fe gytunodd i gychwyn ar yr adolygiad yn ein cyfarfod cyntaf. Fodd bynnag, fel y bydd yr Aelodau'n gwybod, cafodd adroddiad y pwyllgor ei ohirio oherwydd adolygiad barnwrol i gyfreithlondeb y rheoliadau, mater a oedd allan o ddwylo'r pwyllgor. Roedd yr adolygiad barnwrol hwnnw'n bwysig i'r ddadl hon, nid yn unig i egluro pam y cymerodd gymaint o amser i gynhyrchu adroddiad y pwyllgor, ond hefyd i dynnu sylw at ba mor arwyddocaol yw'r rheoliadau hyn. Er bod yr holl reoliadau y pleidleisiwn arnynt yn bwysig, mae'r rheoliadau llygredd amaethyddol hyn yn effeithio ar bethau sy'n greiddiol i gynnal bywyd yng Nghymru - cynhyrchu bwyd, ansawdd ein dŵr a'r amgylchedd ehangach. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru o'r farn y bydd y rheoliadau'n lleihau llygredd yn ein hafonydd yn y pen draw, yn osgoi cyfnewid llygredd ac yn atal neu'n lleihau gollwng mwyfwy o faetholion i'r amgylchedd. Dywedodd y Gweinidog yn glir iawn fod y rheoliadau, drwy weithredu yn y modd hwn, yn cyflawni yn erbyn ystod eang o gyfrifoldebau Cymru ac yn darparu ymateb cyfannol i heriau amgylcheddol sy'n gysylltiedig â chynhyrchiant amaethyddol. Serch hynny, er mwyn gweithredu'r rheoliadau hyn, bydd gofyn i lawer o ffermwyr gyflawni gwaith cydymffurfio, a fydd yn cynnwys gwaith adeiladu sylweddol ar gost sylweddol, a gallai hynny fygwth eu hyfywedd. Felly, mae'n hanfodol fod y rheoliadau hyn yn gosod y cydbwysedd cywir rhwng gwarchod ein hamgylchedd naturiol a chynnal system reoleiddio ymarferol i ffermwyr Cymru. Nawr, cyn imi redeg drwy'r adroddiad a'i argymhellion, rwyf am dynnu sylw at ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru i'n hadroddiad a'i berthnasedd i'r ddadl hon. Roedd disgwyl ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru ar 14 Medi, ac eto fe'i gosodwyd yn y pen draw ar 5 Hydref, sef y dyddiad terfynol olaf ar gyfer ei gynnwys ar agenda'r Cyfarfod Llawn heddiw. Fe wnaeth yr oedi hwn amharu'n ddifrifol ar allu Aelodau i graffu ar ymateb y Llywodraeth, ac o'r herwydd mae'n effeithio ar y ddadl hon. Felly, rwy'n mawr obeithio y bydd pob Gweinidog yn y dyfodol yn ystyried pwysigrwydd ymateb i adroddiadau pwyllgorau'r Senedd mewn modd amserol, fel y gallwn gael dadleuon cwbl wybodus ar adroddiadau pwyllgorau'r Senedd. Nawr, lansiodd Pwyllgor yr Economi, Masnach, a Materion Gwledig ymgynghoriad ar y rheoliadau, a gynhaliwyd dros haf 2021, ac fe wnaeth ystod eang o randdeiliaid - gan gynnwys pysgotwyr, ffermwyr a sefydliadau amgylcheddol - ymateb i'r ymgynghoriad. Ni fydd yr Aelodau'n synnu clywed bod y rheoliadau'n ddadleuol. Mewn ymateb i'n hymgynghoriad, mae ffermwyr wedi cyfeirio atynt fel rhai didostur a chosbol, ac fe wnaethant fynegi pryderon y byddant yn afresymol o ddrud i'w gweithredu ac y gallant achosi i ffermydd fynd i'r wal. Ar y llaw arall, cawsom dystiolaeth gan sefydliadau amgylcheddol a physgotwyr a oedd yn croesawu'r rheoliadau, gan ddadlau ei bod yn hen bryd eu cael. Fe wnaethant ddweud wrthym nad yw'r system bresennol yn atal y llygrwyr amaethyddol gwaethaf, a bod gweithredu ar ffurf y rheoliadau hyn yn mynd rywfaint o'r ffordd i leihau'r llygredd yn ein hafonydd. Felly, fel pwyllgor, roeddem yn ymwybodol iawn fod angen i'r rheoliadau daro'r cydbwysedd cywir a'u bod mor effeithiol â phosibl. Pan ddaeth yr adolygiad barnwrol i ben, llwyddodd y pwyllgor i barhau gyda'n hymchwiliad a gosod ein hadroddiad. Lywydd, mae'n cynnwys 10 argymhelliad, ac am fod yr amser yn gyfyngedig y prynhawn yma, hoffwn ganolbwyntio ar dri maes penodol: cymorth ar gyfer cyflawni, rhanddirymiadau, a phryderon ynghylch ffermio yn ôl y calendr. Yn gyntaf, un o'r materion mwyaf dybryd a godwyd oedd y gost i ffermwyr o gyflawni'r rheoliadau hyn, ac fe'i gwnaed yn eithaf clir i'r pwyllgor y gallai ffermydd fynd i'r wal. Felly, roeddwn yn falch o weld ymrwymiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru i roi £20 miliwn ychwanegol tuag at helpu ffermwyr i gyflawni'r rheoliadau hyn, fel y nodwyd yn y datganiad ysgrifenedig ddaeth gydag ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru i adroddiad y pwyllgor. Rwy'n falch hefyd o weld ymrwymiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru i ddarparu dadansoddiad manwl i'r pwyllgor o'r darpariaethau a wneir, gan gynnwys cymorth ariannol uniongyrchol a chyllid ychwanegol i wasanaethau cynghori. Ac wrth ymateb i'r ddadl hon, efallai y gall y Gweinidog gadarnhau pryd y gall y pwyllgor ddisgwyl yr wybodaeth honno. Yn yr un modd, mae angen cefnogaeth i gyrff cyhoeddus. Mae Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru wedi amcangyfrif y byddant hwy angen 60 o staff ychwanegol i ddarparu'r isafswm llwyr, ac o bosibl fod angen dros 200 o aelodau staff i ddarparu gorfodaeth lawn mewn perthynas â'r rheoliadau hyn. Wrth gwrs, bydd trefn orfodi dameidiog heb ddigon o adnoddau yn rhoi'r gwaethaf o'r ddau fyd i ni, ac roeddwn yn poeni braidd wrth ddarllen yn ymateb y Llywodraeth nad yw'r cytundeb lefel gwasanaeth ar gyfer y rheoliadau wedi ei gytuno eto gan Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru a Llywodraeth Cymru. Bydd angen amser ar Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru i recriwtio a hyfforddi staff ychwanegol, ac felly mae'n hanfodol fod cytundeb lefel gwasanaeth yn cael ei roi ar waith cyn gynted â phosibl. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y Gweinidog yn rhoi diweddariad i ni ar ei ddatblygiad ac unrhyw wybodaeth bellach sydd ganddi am ba mor hir y gallai gymryd i Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru fod mewn sefyllfa i allu gorfodi'r rheoliadau hyn. Lywydd, clywodd y pwyllgor bryderon hefyd ynghylch rhanddirymiadau. Roeddem yn pryderu y byddai tynnu'r rhanddirymiad ar gyfer ffermydd glaswelltir cymwys yn ôl yn rhoi ffermwyr Cymru dan anfantais gystadleuol, ac felly argymhellwyd y byddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn ailgyflwyno'r rhanddirymiad a oedd yn caniatáu i ffermydd glaswelltir cymwys wasgaru hyd at 250 kg yr hectar o nitrogen. Rhybuddiodd undebau ffermio y gallai'r penderfyniad i beidio â chynnwys y rhanddirymiad alw am ddadstocio ar lawer o ffermydd Cymru, gan effeithio ar hyfywedd ffermydd, màs critigol o fewn y gadwyn gyflenwi a chyflogaeth, ac y gallai'r gyfradd is o 170 kg yr hectar arwain at gynhyrchu alltraeth mewn gwledydd sydd â safonau is. Felly, rwy'n falch o weld, yn y datganiad ysgrifenedig i gyd-fynd ag ymateb y Llywodraeth, y bydd ffermydd Cymru yn gallu gwneud cais yn awr am drwydded i wasgaru mwy o nitrogen. Ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y Gweinidog yn rhoi sicrwydd i ffermwyr Cymru heddiw na fydd y mesur hwn yn arwain at fiwrocratiaeth bellach iddynt. Yn olaf, rwyf am sôn am ffermio yn ôl y calendr. Mae Rhan 5 o reoliadau Llywodraeth Cymru'n pennu cyfnodau gwaharddedig, pan fo gwasgaru wedi'i wahardd. Ac er bod eithriadau i rai mathau o ddaliadau a phridd, bydd y cyfnod gwaharddedig yn para o fis Hydref tan fis Ionawr, gyda rhai cyfyngiadau pellach yn para tan ddiwedd mis Chwefror. Clywodd y pwyllgor ddadleuon cryf am bwysigrwydd hyblygrwydd i ffermwyr ar gyfer pryd i wasgaru slyri, ac fe gafodd hynny ei atgyfnerthu i ni mewn gwirionedd yn ystod taith ein pwyllgor i Ganolfan Ymchwil Amaeth Gelli Aur yn sir Gaerfyrddin. Roeddem eisoes wedi clywed pethau mawr am eu gwaith ar brosesu slyri a defnyddio technoleg i benderfynu ar yr amser gorau i wasgaru. Yn ystod yr ymweliad, dangoswyd offer i ni sy'n cefnogi ap y bu'r ganolfan yn ei ddatblygu. Roedd yn gyfuniad trawiadol o orsaf dywydd a synwyryddion sy'n monitro'r amodau, lle mae'r wybodaeth a gesglir yn cael ei bwydo i mewn i ap sy'n prosesu'r data ac yn rhoi statws coch, oren neu wyrdd i ffermwyr ar gyfer gwasgaru slyri. Cawsom wybod bod y system wedi ei phrofi yn ystod cyfnod gwaharddedig 2021-22, a'r canfyddiadau oedd bod yr ap yn dangos statws gwyrdd ar gyfer gwasgaru trwy fis Chwefror a mis Mawrth, sy'n golygu bod y tywydd a'r amodau tir yn iawn ar gyfer gwasgaru slyri. Fodd bynnag, bron cyn gynted ag y daeth y cyfnod gwaharddedig i ben, fe wnaeth yr ap ddynodi bod yr amodau'n goch, gan nodi nad oeddent yn addas ar gyfer gwasgaru slyri. Wrth gwrs, rydym i gyd yn ymwybodol iawn o ba mor anrhagweladwy y gall y tywydd fod, felly mae'n hanfodol fod ffermwyr yn cael newid i system a gefnogir gan dechnoleg yn seiliedig ar y byd go iawn, amodau byw, nid system galendr sy'n seiliedig ar gyfartaledd tymhorol, a hynny cyn gynted â phosibl. Argymhellodd y pwyllgor y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru flaenoriaethu unrhyw argymhellion amgen addas sy'n defnyddio technoleg yn hytrach na chyfnodau gwaharddedig ar gyfer gwasgaru slyri ac er fy mod yn croesawu'r ffordd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn agored i awgrymiadau newydd, rwy'n siomedig fod eu hymateb yn rhoi'r baich cyfrifoldeb ar y gymuned ffermio yn hytrach na bod y Llywodraeth yn mynd ati'n rhagweithiol i fynd ar drywydd dewisiadau technolegol eraill yn lle ffermio yn ôl y calendr. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y gwnaiff y Gweinidog roi ystyriaeth bellach i hyn. Lywydd, mae adroddiad y pwyllgor yn cwmpasu popeth o ddata ansawdd dŵr i orfodaeth ac ymgorffori'r rheoliadau mewn safonau gofynnol cenedlaethol, ac rwy'n annog pob Aelod yn y Siambr i ddarllen ein hadroddiad. Rydym wedi gofyn i Lywodraeth Cymru adolygu effeithiolrwydd mesurau technolegol amgen, i fod yn gwbl dryloyw ynghylch y cymorth cyllido sydd ar gael i ffermwyr, ac i ddarparu sicrwydd bod yna adnoddau ac arweiniad digonol i Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru allu monitro a gorfodi'r rheoliadau hyn. Fel pwyllgor, rydym yn bwriadu parhau i adolygu'r rheoliadau hyn yn y misoedd a'r blynyddoedd nesaf i sicrhau eu heffeithiolrwydd, ac felly, ar y nodyn hwnnw, Lywydd, edrychaf ymlaen at gyfraniadau'r Aelodau yn y ddadl hon. Diolch.