techiaith/cofnodycynulliad_en-cy huggingface dataset:
English: Thank you very much for that, and I'm sure that the work that we're doing in terms of improving and increasing the community benefits as a result of our investment is one way in which we can ensure that local firms and local people do benefit. So, as of the end of December, 519 projects have created 2,465 job opportunities, with over 102,000 weeks of training also provided. So, there's certainly a lot of work that we could be doing in terms of community benefit, and a great deal of work that we could also be doing in terms of the ethical code of practice to ensure that those people throughout the supply chain, whether they are based in Wales or elsewhere, are treated well, paid well, and, obviously, have their rights at work respected. So, I think that procurement is an area really ripe for a real focus by Welsh Government in terms of ensuring that we can circulate as much money that we invest, keep it circulating in Wales, but also look at the huge range of other benefits that we can achieve from procurement.
Welsh: Diolch yn fawr am hynny, ac rwy'n siŵr fod y gwaith a wnawn o ran gwella a chynyddu'r manteision cymunedol o ganlyniad i'n buddsoddiad yn un ffordd y gallwn sicrhau bod cwmnïau lleol a phobl leol yn elwa. Felly, erbyn diwedd mis Rhagfyr, roedd 519 o brosiectau wedi creu 2,465 o gyfleoedd gwaith, gyda dros 102,000 o wythnosau o hyfforddiant wedi eu darparu hefyd. Felly, yn sicr, mae llawer o waith y gallem fod yn ei wneud o ran budd cymunedol, a llawer iawn o waith y gallem fod yn ei wneud hefyd o ran y cod ymarfer moesegol i sicrhau bod y bobl hynny ym mhob rhan o'r gadwyn gyflenwi, boed wedi'u lleoli yng Nghymru neu yn rhywle arall, yn cael eu trin yn dda, yn cael eu talu'n dda, ac yn amlwg, fod eu hawliau yn y gwaith yn cael eu parchu. Felly, credaf fod caffael yn faes sy'n barod iawn am ffocws gwirioneddol gan Lywodraeth Cymru o ran sicrhau y gallwn gylchredeg cymaint o'r arian a fuddsoddwn, sicrhau ei fod yn parhau i gylchredeg yma yng Nghymru, ond edrych hefyd ar yr ystod eang o fuddion eraill y gallwn eu sicrhau yn sgil caffael.
English: I would disagree with the characterisation of the way in which Welsh Government provides support for business, but this is an area that I've taken an interest in since coming into portfolio, and I'm exploring what more we might do in order to satisfy ourselves when grants are being made and, indeed, when business loans are being made, that we can be sure that we're investing in the right company and taking the right level of risk with those companies. So, one thing that we could, potentially, be looking to ensure is that we have named officials dealing with specific projects, who Ministers can meet with regularly in order to oversee those loans. I do have to say that there is a huge structure of auditing already in place within Welsh Government in terms of ensuring the correct and good investment of the money that we invest.
Welsh: Buaswn yn anghytuno â'r disgrifiad o'r ffordd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn darparu cymorth ar gyfer busnesau, ond mae hwn yn faes sydd wedi bod o ddiddordeb i mi ers dod i'r portffolio, ac rwy'n archwilio beth arall y gallem ei wneud i fodloni ein hunain pan gaiff grantiau eu rhoi, ac yn wir, pan gaiff benthyciadau busnes eu rhoi, y gallwn fod yn sicr ein bod yn buddsoddi yn y cwmni iawn ac yn ymgymryd â'r lefel gywir o risg gyda'r cwmnïau hynny. Felly, un peth y gallem geisio'i sicrhau o bosibl yw bod gennym swyddogion penodol yn ymdrin â phrosiectau penodol, ac y gall Gweinidogion gyfarfod â hwy'n rheolaidd i oruchwylio'r benthyciadau hynny. Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud bod strwythur archwilio enfawr eisoes ar waith yn Llywodraeth Cymru o ran sicrhau y gwneir buddsoddiadau cywir a da â'r arian a fuddsoddwn.
English: I'm not entirely satisfied that we're making any great deal of progress as yet from that answer, regarding it as work in progress. But the auditor general's recommendations concerning Welsh Government risk management are also important. He says that 'the Welsh Government's Sectors and Business Team only assesses risk for individual projects in isolation and does not have a defined risk appetite across its programme of providing financial support to businesses.' That's a broad point about the whole structure or the theoretical basis on which the Welsh Government's financial support for business is based. I've looked through the Assembly's Record of Proceedings and the Welsh Government website, and there's very little there to confirm what the approach is to risk management and risk appetite. So, what exactly is the Minister doing within Welsh Government to ensure that there is a clear and robust approach to Welsh Government financial support? Because we're dealing with significant sums of money here, which, of course, if they're put at risk, means that we can't spend them on other worthwhile things.
Welsh: Nid wyf yn gwbl argyhoeddedig ein bod yn gwneud llawer o gynnydd eto o'r ateb hwnnw, sy'n ei ystyried yn waith sy'n mynd rhagddo. Ond mae argymhellion yr archwilydd cyffredinol ynghylch gwaith rheoli risg Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwysig hefyd. Dywed fod 'Tîm Sectorau a Busnes Llywodraeth Cymru yn asesu risgiau ar gyfer prosiectau unigol yn unig, a hynny ar wahân, ac nid oes ganddo archwaeth risg ddiffiniedig ledled ei raglenni ar gyfer darparu cymorth ariannol i fusnesau.' Mae hwnnw'n bwynt cyffredinol ynglŷn â'r strwythur yn ei gyfanrwydd neu'r sail ddamcaniaethol y seilir cymorth ariannol Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer busnesau arni. Rwyf wedi edrych drwy Gofnod o Drafodion y Cynulliad ac ar wefan Llywodraeth Cymru, ac ychydig iawn sydd yno i gadarnhau beth yw'r ymagwedd tuag at reoli risg ac archwaeth risg. Felly, beth yn union y mae'r Gweinidog yn ei wneud yn Llywodraeth Cymru i sicrhau y ceir ymagwedd glir a chadarn tuag at gymorth ariannol gan Lywodraeth Cymru? Oherwydd rydym yn ymdrin â symiau sylweddol o arian yma, sy'n golygu, wrth gwrs, os cânt eu peryglu, na allwn eu gwario ar bethau eraill gwerth chweil.
English: Thank you. So, when Welsh Government does make an investment or offer a grant or a loan over a certain amount of money, then I oversee and I have a view to take on each and every one of those decisions that are made by my colleagues. And I provide challenge to my colleagues, asking about affordability, about payment profiles, about value for money and efficient spending, and exploring to what extent those funding decisions that are made, or those grant decisions that are made, represent value in terms of being in line with our overarching Welsh Government priorities as found in our programme for government. So, there's certainly a level of personal interest that I take in this, but, clearly, individual funding decisions taken by individual Ministers have to be done within the context of their own budgetary management as well.
Welsh: Diolch. Pan fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud buddsoddiad neu'n cynnig grant neu fenthyciad o swm penodol o arian, rwy'n goruchwylio hynny a fy mwriad yw ystyried pob un o'r penderfyniadau hynny a wneir gan fy nghyd-Aelodau. Ac rwy'n darparu her i fy nghyd-Aelodau, gan eu holi ynglŷn â fforddiadwyedd, ynglŷn â phroffiliau talu, ynglŷn â gwerth am arian a gwariant effeithlon, ac archwilio i ba raddau y mae'r penderfyniadau ariannu hynny a wneir, neu'r penderfyniadau grant hynny a wneir, yn cynrychioli gwerth am arian o ran eu bod yn cyd-fynd â blaenoriaethau trosfwaol Llywodraeth Cymru fel y'u nodir yn ein rhaglen lywodraethu. Felly, yn sicr, mae gennyf lefel o ddiddordeb personol yn hyn o beth, ond yn amlwg, mae'n rhaid i benderfyniadau ariannu unigol gan Weinidogion unigol gael eu gwneud yng nghyd-destun eu rheolaeth gyllidebol eu hunain hefyd.
English: Thank you for raising that, and I'll certainly give further thought to what action might be able to be taken in terms of increasing transparency, but within the confines, obviously, of the commercial sensitivities for those businesses involved and also within the context of the auditor general's report.
Welsh: Diolch am godi hynny, ac yn sicr, byddaf yn rhoi ystyriaeth bellach i ba gamau y gellid eu cymryd o ran cynyddu tryloywder, ond o fewn cyfyngiadau sensitifrwydd masnachol, yn amlwg, i'r busnesau dan sylw yn ogystal ag o fewn cyd-destun adroddiad yr archwilydd cyffredinol.
English: Thank you. I understand, Presiding Officer, that you've given your permission for questions 3 and 4 to be grouped together. Together, the Minister for Housing and Local Government and I met representatives of local government at the finance sub-group on 23 January, where we discussed a range of matters, including the funding challenges facing local government.
Welsh: Diolch. Deallaf, Lywydd, eich bod wedi caniatáu i gwestiynau 3 a 4 gael eu grwpio. Gyda'n gilydd, cyfarfu'r Gweinidog Tai a Llywodraeth Leol a minnau â chynrychiolwyr llywodraeth leol yn yr is-grŵp cyllid ar 23 Ionawr, lle buom yn trafod amrywiaeth o faterion, gan gynnwys yr heriau cyllid sy'n wynebu llywodraeth leol.
English: Thank you, Minister. Because of Tory austerity, Torfaen council yesterday were forced to put up council tax by 5.9 per cent in order to protect vital public services, especially schools and social care. I'm very proud to represent a Labour council that is fighting so hard to protect local services, and although I welcome the additional funding the Welsh Government announced for local government after the draft budget, it is undoubtedly the case that local authorities are facing huge funding pressures, especially in education and social care. In terms of education, you may be aware that the Children, Young People and Education Committee is currently conducting an inquiry on school funding in Wales, and I have to say that the evidence we've received so far from teachers and school leaders paints a very worrying picture.
Welsh: Diolch, Weinidog. Ddoe, o ganlyniad i gyni Torïaidd, bu'n rhaid i gyngor Torfaen godi'r dreth gyngor 5.9 y cant er mwyn diogelu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus hanfodol, yn enwedig ysgolion a gofal cymdeithasol. Rwy'n falch iawn o gynrychioli cyngor Llafur sy'n brwydro mor galed i ddiogelu gwasanaethau lleol, ac er fy mod yn croesawu'r cyllid ychwanegol a gyhoeddwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer llywodraeth leol ar ôl y gyllideb ddrafft, heb os, mae awdurdodau lleol yn wynebu pwysau ariannol enfawr, yn enwedig mewn perthynas ag addysg a gofal cymdeithasol. O ran addysg, efallai eich bod yn ymwybodol fod y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg yn cynnal ymchwiliad ar hyn o bryd i gyllid ysgolion yng Nghymru, ac mae'n rhaid imi ddweud bod y dystiolaeth rydym wedi'i chael hyd yn hyn gan athrawon ac arweinwyr ysgolion yn peri cryn bryder.
English: Can I ask what discussions the Minister will have with both the Minister for Education and the Minister for Housing and Local Government, and what assurances you can give that ensuring sufficient funding for our schools will be a priority for you?
Welsh: A gaf fi ofyn pa drafodaethau y bydd y Gweinidog yn eu cael gyda'r Gweinidog Addysg a'r Gweinidog Tai a Llywodraeth Leol, a pha sicrwydd y gallwch ei roi fod sicrhau cyllid digonol ar gyfer ein hysgolion yn flaenoriaeth i chi?
English: Thank you for raising this, and I do find it quite staggering to hear the shouts of 'good question' and 'hear, hear' from the Conservative benches when, as a result of austerity, funding per head of the population for day-to-day devolved public services, such as schools in Wales, will be 7 per cent lower next year than it was a decade ago. Between 2010-11 and 2019-20, the Welsh budget will have fallen by 5 per cent in real terms, when repayable funding's excluded. So, that's equivalent to £850 million less to spend on public services every year, but nonetheless, we're clearly prioritising the NHS, we're prioritising education, and we're prioritising social services. So, with regard specifically to schools, we are directing to local authorities all of the £23.5 million announced by the UK Government last September towards funding school teachers' pay award in 2018-19 and 2019-20. And, in addition to this, we've gone further and announced an additional £15 million of funding that is being deployed over this financial year and next to help local authorities meet those cost pressures associated with teachers' pay in particular. However, I do absolutely recognise the huge pressure that local authorities are under at the moment. We've given the best possible settlement, but we're under no illusion that it does mean difficult choices for our local government colleagues.
Welsh: Diolch am godi hyn, ac mae'n syfrdanol clywed pobl yn gweiddi 'cwestiwn da' a 'clywch, clywch' ar feinciau'r Ceidwadwyr pan fydd cyllid fesul y pen o'r boblogaeth ar gyfer gwasanaethau cyhoeddus datganoledig dydd i ddydd, megis ysgolion yng Nghymru, 7 y cant yn is y flwyddyn nesaf na'r hyn ydoedd ddegawd yn ôl o ganlyniad i gyni. Rhwng 2010-11 a 2019-20, bydd cyllideb Cymru wedi gostwng 5 y cant mewn termau real, pan fydd cyllid ad-daladwy wedi'i eithrio. Felly, mae hynny'n cyfateb i £850 miliwn yn llai i'w wario ar wasanaethau cyhoeddus bob blwyddyn, ond serch hynny, rydym yn rhoi blaenoriaeth glir i'r GIG, rydym yn blaenoriaethu addysg, ac rydym yn blaenoriaethu gwasanaethau cymdeithasol. Felly, o ran ysgolion yn benodol, rydym yn rhoi'r cyfan o'r £23.5 miliwn a gyhoeddwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU fis Medi diwethaf i awdurdodau lleol er mwyn ariannu dyfarniad cyflog athrawon ysgol yn 2018-19 a 2019-20. Ac yn ychwanegol at hyn, rydym wedi mynd ymhellach ac wedi cyhoeddi £15 miliwn ychwanegol o arian a fydd yn cael ei roi dros y flwyddyn ariannol hon a'r nesaf i gynorthwyo awdurdodau lleol i ymdopi â'r pwysau ariannol sy'n gysylltiedig â chyflogau athrawon yn benodol. Fodd bynnag, rwy'n llwyr gydnabod y pwysau enfawr sydd ar awdurdodau lleol ar hyn o bryd. Rydym wedi rhoi'r setliad gorau posibl, ond rydym yn gwbl ymwybodol fod hynny'n golygu dewisiadau anodd ar gyfer ein cymheiriaid mewn llywodraeth leol.
English: Minister, one of the consequences of Tory austerity is not only does the Assembly have less money, but also it means that local government has less money. And, of course, one of the pressures is on the leisure centres that are provided, which are of considerable public value to our communities. We are already seeing leisure centres having to close or be transferred into trusts. What I'm asking you, Minister, is to consider this: there is an opportunity, by removing the obligation in respect of council tax on local authority leisure centres, to actually put them on a level playing field with trusts. That would save, certainly in my council of Rhondda Cynon Taf, in the region of £800,000 a year. If those authorities have to actually close or transfer those leisure centres into a trust, we lose that money in any event. So, this would be, I think, an imaginative way of actually supporting our community publicly owned leisure centres where we pay decent pay - decent conditions, accountable to the community. And, by removing the obligation and creating a level playing field, we could do a lot to protect them and to protect this element of public service.
Welsh: Weinidog, un o ganlyniadau'r cyni Torïaidd yw nid yn unig fod gan y Cynulliad lai o arian, ond golyga hefyd fod llai o arian gan lywodraeth leol. Ac wrth gwrs, un elfen sydd o dan bwysau yw'r canolfannau hamdden a ddarperir, sydd o werth cyhoeddus sylweddol i'n cymunedau. Rydym eisoes yn gweld canolfannau hamdden yn gorfod cau neu gael eu trosglwyddo i ymddiriedolaethau. Gofynnaf ichi ystyried hyn, Weinidog: drwy gael gwared ar y rhwymedigaeth mewn perthynas â'r dreth gyngor i ganolfannau hamdden awdurdodau lleol, ceir cyfle i sicrhau chwarae teg rhyngddynt a'r ymddiriedolaethau. Byddai hynny'n arbed, yn sicr yn fy nghyngor i yn Rhondda Cynon Taf, oddeutu £800,000 y flwyddyn. Os oes rhaid i'r awdurdodau hyn gau neu drosglwyddo'r canolfannau hamdden hynny i ymddiriedolaeth, rydym yn colli'r arian hwnnw beth bynnag. Felly, credaf y byddai hon yn ffordd greadigol o gefnogi ein canolfannau hamdden cymunedol sy'n eiddo i'r cyhoedd lle rydym yn talu cyflog gweddus - amodau gweddus, yn atebol i'r gymuned. A thrwy gael gwared ar y rhwymedigaeth a sicrhau chwarae teg, gallem wneud llawer i'w hamddiffyn ac i warchod yr elfen hon o wasanaeth cyhoeddus.
English: Thank you very much, and I know that you raised this particular issue in the Chamber with me a week or so ago, and I've certainly had some further opportunity to explore the issue further. I think that what we have to remember is that all non-domestic rates revenue received in Wales is distributed to local authorities to help fund local services. So, the vast majority of local authorities in Wales will receive more as a result of the payment of non-domestic rates than they see paid out within their own areas. Providing rates relief or exemptions to councils or other public bodies could distort competition and markets, giving publicly run facilities an unfair advantage over the privately run ones, and that could have some state-aid implications, as I've been told. But, obviously, I know that this is an area of particular interest to you; I'd be more than happy to continue that conversation.
Welsh: Diolch yn fawr iawn, a gwn eich bod wedi codi'r mater penodol hwn gyda mi yn y Siambr wythnos neu ddwy yn ôl, ac yn sicr, rwyf wedi cael mwy o gyfle i archwilio'r mater ymhellach. Credaf mai'r hyn sy'n rhaid inni ei gofio yw bod holl refeniw ardrethi annomestig yng Nghymru yn cael ei ddosbarthu i awdurdodau lleol i helpu i ariannu gwasanaethau lleol. Felly, bydd y mwyafrif helaeth o awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru yn cael mwy o ganlyniad i dalu ardrethi annomestig nag y gwelant yn cael ei dalu allan yn eu hardaloedd eu hunain. Gallai rhoi rhyddhad ardrethi neu esemptiadau i gynghorau neu gyrff cyhoeddus eraill ystumio'r gystadleuaeth a'r marchnadoedd, gan roi mantais annheg i gyfleusterau cyhoeddus dros y rhai preifat, a gallai hynny arwain at oblygiadau mewn perthynas â chymorth gwladwriaethol, yn ôl yr hyn a ddywedwyd wrthyf. Ond yn amlwg, gwn fod hwn yn faes sydd o ddiddordeb arbennig i chi; rwy'n fwy na pharod i barhau â'r sgwrs honno.
English: Minister, council tax payers in south-east Wales are facing huge increases in their bills thanks to the Welsh Government's inadequate local government settlement. People living in Newport, Torfaen and Merthyr Tydfil are facing bills increased by nearly 6 per cent, and Caerphilly council is set to rise by nearly 7 per cent. Given that the Welsh Government 5 per cent cap has proved to be just a PR exercise, I think, what discussions has the Minister had with her colleagues about the devastating effect that these huge increases will have on hard-pressed families often in the poorest parts of Wales?
Welsh: Weinidog, mae talwyr y dreth gyngor yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru yn wynebu cynnydd aruthrol yn eu biliau diolch i setliad llywodraeth leol annigonol Llywodraeth Cymru. Mae pobl sy'n byw yng Nghasnewydd, Torfaen a Merthyr Tudful yn wynebu cynnydd o bron i 6 y cant yn eu biliau, ac mae cyngor Caerffili ar fin cael cynnydd o bron i 7 y cant. O gofio mai ymarfer cysylltiadau cyhoeddus yn unig oedd cap 5 y cant Llywodraeth Cymru yn fy marn i, pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cael gyda'i chyd-Aelodau ynghylch yr effaith ddinistriol y bydd y codiadau anferth hyn yn ei chael ar deuluoedd sydd dan bwysau, yn aml yn y rhannau tlotaf o Gymru?
English: I think the brass neck on the Conservative benches is quite incredible this afternoon. If public spending had kept pace with growth in the economy, we would have an extra £4 billion to spend next year, and imagine how generous we could be to local authorities then. But I do have to say to the Conservatives, if the Conservatives want more money for any area of Welsh life, be it local authorities or the NHS or anywhere else, then they would have to tell us where the cut would fall.
Welsh: Credaf fod yr haerllugrwydd ar feinciau'r Ceidwadwyr yn eithaf anhygoel y prynhawn yma. Pe bai gwariant cyhoeddus wedi cadw i fyny â thwf yn yr economi, byddai gennym £4 biliwn yn ychwanegol i'w wario y flwyddyn nesaf, a dychmygwch pa mor hael y gallem fod tuag at awdurdodau lleol pe ba hynny wedi digwydd. Ond mae'n rhaid imi ddweud wrth y Ceidwadwyr, os yw'r Ceidwadwyr yn dymuno cael mwy o arian ar gyfer unrhyw ran o'r bywyd Cymreig, boed yn awdurdodau lleol neu'r GIG neu unrhyw le arall, byddai'n rhaid iddynt ddweud wrthym lle dylid gwneud y toriadau.
English: Minister, the Welsh Local Government Association is always pleading with the Welsh Government to reduce the amount of specific hypothecated grants allocated to councils on an annual basis. They argue, obviously, that this funding should instead be provided directly by the revenue support grant, giving local authorities as much freedom as possible to respond to local need. Now, do you recognise this call, and, given the current state of local government finance, will you commit to listening to local authority leaders on this point during the next budget-setting process?
Welsh: Weinidog, mae Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru yn ymbil bob amser ar Lywodraeth Cymru i leihau faint o grantiau penodol wedi'u neilltuo a ddyrennir i gynghorau ar sail flynyddol. Yn amlwg, maent yn dadlau y dylid darparu'r cyllid hwn yn uniongyrchol drwy'r grant cynnal refeniw yn lle hynny, gan roi cymaint o ryddid â phosibl i awdurdodau lleol ymateb i angen lleol. Nawr, a ydych yn cydnabod yr alwad hon, ac o gofio cyflwr presennol cyllid llywodraeth leol, a wnewch chi ymrwymo i wrando ar arweinwyr awdurdodau lleol mewn perthynas â'r pwynt hwn yn ystod y broses o bennu'r gyllideb nesaf?
English: Thank you very much. It is always the case, obviously, that local authorities would like to have as much of the funding in the revenue support grant as possible, and we have taken steps, on an annual basis I think, to explore what more we can do in order to give local authorities the kind of flexibility they need. We have a further meeting of the finance sub-group coming up very shortly, and I'd be more than happy to pursue that conversation there.
Welsh: Diolch yn fawr. Mae bob amser yn wir, yn amlwg, yr hoffai awdurdodau lleol gael cymaint o'r arian â phosibl yn y grant cynnal refeniw, ac rydym wedi cymryd camau, ar sail flynyddol rwy'n credu, i ystyried beth arall y gallwn ei wneud er mwyn rhoi'r math o hyblygrwydd sydd ei angen arnynt i awdurdodau lleol. Bydd yr is-grŵp cyllid yn cyfarfod eto cyn bo hir, ac rwy'n fwy na pharod i gael y sgwrs honno yno.