English: We must listen to and act with urgency upon the evidence and suggestions being proposed for ways that we in Wales can do more to address this crisis. An emergency summit, as I said, would be a first step that could help inform an emergency cost-of-living action plan. We need initiatives to support renters, for example, who have been amongst the hardest hit by the cost-of-living crisis. The Welsh Government has put a cap on social rent for the coming year, equal to the level of inflation for September, which is 3.1 per cent. This is a welcome move as compared with the above-inflation hikes permitted this year for England. But will the Government commit to making this a permanent policy, and not slip back to the above-inflation rises that it normally permits? Will they also consider the calls of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and others to institute a model of living rent, given that we know rent and rental arrears are one of the biggest costs facing households? The tenancy hardship grant could be extended, so that more social housing tenants not eligible for universal credit or housing benefit could be helped permanently. The building and retrofitting of social housing could be further accelerated. Other suggestions that could be explored include more investment in the discretionary assistance fund, which could be extended and made more flexible permanently. The education maintenance allowance could be increased and extended. The idea of debt bonfires, recommended by the Equality and Social Justice Committee's report, could be progressed at pace. How many more ideas could an emergency summit produce? How much urgency and strategic co-ordinated action could an emergency plan ensure, giving us clear priorities and joined-up effective implementation? It's those who are already suffering socioeconomic disadvantage in our society that are bearing the brunt of this crisis: renters, those on low incomes or in insecure work, disabled people, children, lone parents, older people, care leavers and black, Asian and minority ethnic households. These groups already face greater costs than most, so any increases in the cost of living only exacerbate the inequality and its economic, social and health impacts.
Welsh: Rhaid inni wrando a gweithredu ar frys ar y dystiolaeth a'r awgrymiadau a argymhellir ar gyfer ffyrdd y gallwn ni yng Nghymru wneud mwy i fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng hwn. Byddai uwchgynhadledd frys, fel y dywedais, yn gam cyntaf a allai helpu i lywio cynllun gweithredu costau byw brys. Mae angen mentrau i gefnogi rhentwyr, er enghraifft, sydd wedi bod ymhlith y rhai a gafodd eu taro galetaf gan yr argyfwng costau byw. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gosod cap ar rent cymdeithasol ar gyfer y flwyddyn i ddod, i gyd-fynd â lefel chwyddiant ym mis Medi, sef 3.1 y cant. Mae hwn yn gam i'w groesawu o'i gymharu â'r cynnydd uwch na chwyddiant a ganiateir eleni ar gyfer Lloegr. Ond a wnaiff y Llywodraeth ymrwymo i wneud hwn yn bolisi parhaol, a pheidio â llithro'n ôl i'r cynnydd uwch na chwyddiant y mae'n eu caniatáu fel arfer? A fyddant hefyd yn ystyried galwadau Sefydliad Joseph Rowntree ac eraill i sefydlu model rhent byw, o gofio ein bod yn gwybod mai rhent ac ôl-ddyledion rhent yw un o'r costau mwyaf sy'n wynebu aelwydydd? Gellid ymestyn y grant caledi i denantiaid, fel y gellid rhoi cymorth mwy parhaol i fwy o denantiaid tai cymdeithasol nad ydynt yn gymwys i gael credyd cynhwysol neu fudd-dal tai. Gellid cyflymu'r gwaith o adeiladu ac ôl-osod tai cymdeithasol ymhellach. Mae awgrymiadau eraill y gellid eu harchwilio yn cynnwys mwy o fuddsoddiad yn y gronfa cymorth dewisol, y gellid ei hymestyn a'i gwneud yn fwy hyblyg yn barhaol. Gellid cynyddu ac ymestyn y lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg. Gellid mynd ati'n gyflym i ddatblygu'r syniad o goelcerthi dyledion, a argymhellwyd gan adroddiad y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol. Faint yn rhagor o syniadau y gallai uwchgynhadledd frys eu cynhyrchu? Faint o frys a gweithredu cydgysylltiedig strategol y gallai cynllun argyfwng ei sicrhau, gan roi blaenoriaethau clir i ni a gweithredu effeithiol cydgysylltiedig? Y rhai sydd eisoes yn dioddef anfantais economaidd-gymdeithasol yn ein cymdeithas sy'n ysgwyddo baich yr argyfwng hwn: rhentwyr, pobl ar incwm isel neu mewn gwaith ansicr, pobl anabl, plant, rhieni sengl, pobl hŷn, rhai sy'n gadael gofal ac aelwydydd pobl dduon, Asiaidd a lleiafrifol ethnig. Mae'r grwpiau hyn eisoes yn wynebu mwy o gostau na'r rhan fwyaf, felly mae unrhyw gynnydd mewn costau byw yn gwaethygu'r anghydraddoldeb a'i effeithiau economaidd, cymdeithasol ac iechyd.