English: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I suppose I've become quite predictable now in terms of what I ask about in the Chamber. I've been reliably informed that I actually talk about EMA in my sleep, much to the annoyance of my wife. But, you know, when we're out in the community, what I'm often asked is, 'What has the Senedd done for us?' EMA is one of the first things I always point to. It was protected by Government, and I would reiterate again how grateful I am, and how a younger version of me was grateful as well for Welsh Government protecting that. Vikki, I think, raised a very important point. Here's the conflict facing low-income students: 'Do I stay in education, or do I go out and earn?' That was a question I asked myself, and had I chosen the latter, I might not be stood here today now, and that probably would have made the lives of a lot of people a lot easier, but nonetheless, it was EMA, I firmly believe, that got me to this point, amongst other support provided by Welsh Government. In terms of the work that's being done by committees, Jayne referenced the work done by the young people and education committee - really, really fantastic and worthwhile work. There was work done by the Finance Committee; Mike referenced that - again, fantastic work. And my own committee, as well, looked at EMA as part of our scrutiny around the young person's guarantee. There seems to be a consensus forming, and that's why I'm quite glad as well that the Government is willing to support this motion, of course with the caveat that there are limitations, and I'll very much look forward to seeing the Minister's response to Jayne's committee around a top-down review. I am incredibly grateful, as well, that we'll continue to work on the practical elements, and I look forward to sharing some of the information that we've had through my office on the survey of students' experiences, and I know that the Minister is committed to seriously working on this. I think Heledd, as well, was really right in what she said. We aren't flooded with casework relating to EMA, but we are dealing with vulnerable people. We talk about getting young people involved in politics, and Mike is right; we need more people from different backgrounds. I've always advocated for getting more working class people involved in politics. Now, what better way would there be to demonstrate that this place is worth getting involved in than by delivering something like EMA that will have a direct impact on especially students from low-income households but also their families? Fundamentally, I am committed to making this happen. I'm committed to working with the Minister. This isn't, for me, any sort of party political debate. This is something that is personal. I am a direct result of EMA, and I hope that all Members in this Chamber will work cross-party and work with myself and the Minister to make increasing the payments and increasing the thresholds a reality, because God knows, a number of low-income students across Wales need that support, now more than ever.
Welsh: Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Mae'n debyg y gallwch ragweld erbyn hyn beth rwy'n tueddu i ofyn amdano yn y Siambr. Cefais wybod fy mod yn siarad am y lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg yn fy nghwsg, er mawr ddiflastod i fy ngwraig. Ond wyddoch chi, pan fyddwn allan yn y gymuned, yr hyn a ofynnir i mi'n aml yw, 'Beth mae'r Senedd wedi'i wneud i ni?', a'r lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg yw un o'r pethau cyntaf rwy'n cyfeirio atynt bob tro. Cafodd ei ddiogelu gan y Llywodraeth, a charwn ailadrodd eto pa mor ddiolchgar rwyf fi, a pha mor ddiolchgar oedd y fersiwn iau ohonof hefyd i Lywodraeth Cymru am ei ddiogelu. Credaf fod Vikki wedi nodi pwynt pwysig iawn. Dyma'r cyfyng-gyngor sy'n wynebu myfyrwyr incwm isel: 'A wyf yn aros mewn addysg, neu a wyf i'n mynd allan i ennill cyflog?' Dyna'r cwestiwn a ofynnais i mi fy hun, a phe bawn wedi mynd am yr ail ddewis, efallai na fyddwn yn sefyll yma heddiw, ac mae'n debyg y byddai hynny wedi gwneud bywydau llawer o bobl yn llawer haws, ond serch hynny, credaf yn gryf mai'r lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg a'm galluogodd i gyrraedd y pwynt hwn, ynghyd â chymorth arall a ddarparwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Ar y gwaith a wneir gan bwyllgorau, cyfeiriodd Jayne at y gwaith a wneir gan y pwyllgor pobl ifanc ac addysg - gwaith gwirioneddol wych a gwerth chweil. Gwnaed gwaith gan y Pwyllgor Cyllid; cyfeiriodd Mike at hynny - unwaith eto, gwaith gwych. Ac edrychodd fy mhwyllgor fy hun hefyd ar y lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg fel rhan o'n gwaith craffu ar y warant i bobl ifanc. Ymddengys bod consensws yn ffurfio, a dyna pam fy mod yn falch iawn hefyd fod y Llywodraeth yn fodlon cefnogi'r cynnig hwn, gyda'r cafeat, wrth gwrs, fod yna gyfyngiadau, ac edrychaf ymlaen yn fawr at weld ymateb y Gweinidog i bwyllgor Jayne ynghylch adolygiad o'r brig i lawr. Rwy'n hynod ddiolchgar hefyd y byddwn yn parhau i weithio ar yr elfennau ymarferol, ac edrychaf ymlaen at rannu rhywfaint o'r wybodaeth rydym wedi'i chael drwy fy swyddfa ar yr arolwg o brofiadau myfyrwyr, a gwn fod y Gweinidog wedi ymrwymo i weithio o ddifrif ar hyn. Credaf fod Heledd, hefyd, yn llygad ei lle yn yr hyn a ddywedodd. Nid ydym yn cael ein gorlethu â gwaith achos sy'n ymwneud â'r lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg, ond rydym yn ymdrin â phobl agored i niwed. Rydym yn sôn am annog pobl ifanc i gymryd rhan mewn gwleidyddiaeth, ac mae Mike yn iawn; mae arnom angen mwy o bobl o gefndiroedd gwahanol. Rwyf bob amser wedi dadlau dros gael mwy o bobl ddosbarth gweithiol i ymwneud â gwleidyddiaeth. Nawr, pa ffordd well o ddangos bod y lle hwn yn werth ymwneud ag ef na thrwy ddarparu rhywbeth fel lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg a fydd yn cael effaith uniongyrchol ar fyfyrwyr o gartrefi incwm isel yn enwedig, ond hefyd ar eu teuluoedd? Rwy'n gwbl ymrwymedig i wneud i hyn ddigwydd. Rwyf wedi ymrwymo i weithio gyda'r Gweinidog. Nid yw hon, i mi, yn unrhyw fath o ddadl bleidiol wleidyddol. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth personol. Rwy'n ganlyniad uniongyrchol i'r lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yr holl Aelodau yn y Siambr hon yn gweithio'n drawsbleidiol ac yn gweithio gyda mi a'r Gweinidog i gynyddu'r taliadau a chynyddu'r trothwyon, oherwydd Duw a ŵyr, mae angen y cymorth hwnnw ar nifer o fyfyrwyr incwm isel ledled Cymru, nawr yn fwy nag erioed.