Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Today, I update Members on our manifesto and programme for government commitment to ensure that Wales learns the lessons of COVID-19, strengthens its resilience, and is better prepared for any future pandemic. The COVID pandemic impacted everyone living in Wales. Thousands died, tens of thousands suffered severe ill health, many of whom continue to suffer today, and not one element of our society was untouched by the pandemic. It placed extraordinary demands on our health and care services, disrupted education and daily life, and brought loss and hardship to many people. Like many families across Wales, my own has been affected by long COVID. It is a personal reminder that, for many of us, the impact of the pandemic is far from over. When looking back, we owe it to everyone affected, and especially to those who lost loved ones, to examine what happened honestly, and to ensure that the lessons have been learnt.
We know that the risks of pandemics are likely to arise with greater frequency over the coming decades, not least due to the impact of climate change. We must act with decisiveness in adapting to these potential threats, because when the next pandemic happens, and it will, we must ensure that our public services have properly planned and prepared.
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Heddiw felly, dwi'n cyhoeddi y bydd panel annibynnol, sef panel adolygu a phanel sicrwydd COVID-19 Cymru, yn cael ei sefydlu. Ei brif ddiben fydd asesu a yw gallu Cymru i ymateb i bandemig neu argyfwng cenedlaethol yn y dyfodol yn gryfach. Bydd yn asesu a yw gwersi wedi arwain at welliannau ymarferol, a yw'r gwelliannau
Official English translation
Today, therefore, I announce that an independent panel, a review-and-assurance panel for COVID-19 Wales, will be established. Its main aim will be to assess whether Wales's capability to respond to a pandemic or a national emergency in the future is strengthened. It will assess whether lessons have been learnt and have led to practical improvements, and whether those improvements
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a yw'r gwelliannau hynny wedi'u gwreiddio ac yn cyflawni'r effaith a fwriadwyd, ac a oes angen gwneud mwy. Ar ôl darllen adroddiad modiwl 6 diweddaraf o ymchwiliad COVID y Deyrnas Gyfunol, mae'n glir i fi bod llawer iawn o waith i'w wneud i sicrhau bod y gwersi i Gymru'n cael eu dysgu'n iawn ac yn drylwyr. Bydd y panel yn cael ei arwain gan arbenigwyr ac yn annibynnol ar Lywodraeth Cymru. Bydd yn canolbwyntio ar wasanaethau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol i oedolion, gwasanaethau sydd o fewn cyfrifoldeb datganoledig i raddau helaeth. Roedden nhw'n rhan ganolog o ymateb Cymru i'r pandemig, ac wedi'u codi'n gyson fel materion o bryder mawr i deuluoedd mewn profedigaeth ac eraill a gafodd eu heffeithio'n sylweddol. Rhaid—rhaid—i ni allu dangos, yn hytrach na datgan, bod y gwersi wedi'u deall, bod camau wedi'u cymryd yn sgil y gwersi hynny, a'u bod wedi'u cynnal ar draws y system. Ac mae'n rhaid i ni allu gwneud hyn mewn modd amserol a focused. Mae'n bleser gen i gyhoeddi, felly, bod yr Athro Daniel Wincott, athro yn y gyfraith yn Ysgol y Gyfraith a Gwleidyddiaeth ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd, wedi cytuno i fod yn gadeirydd annibynnol ar y panel. Mae'n dod ag arbenigedd helaeth ym meysydd cyfraith gyhoeddus; datganoli Cymru; llywodraethant cyfansoddiadol; gweinyddiaeth gyhoeddus; a gweithrediad llywodraeth. Ar y panel hefyd bydd yna arbenigwyr o feysydd systemau gofal iechyd, gofal cymdeithasol ac iechyd y cyhoedd, gan sicrhau bod gan y panel ystod eang o wybodaeth i asesu'r dystiolaeth, i gwestiynu rhagdybiaethau, ac i herio Llywodraeth Cymru. Byddaf i'n cadarnhau'r aelodaeth yn fuan, a dwi'n disgwyl i'r panel gyfarfod am y tro cyntaf yn gynnar yn y flwyddyn newydd. Bydd yr adolygiad yma'n ategu ymchwiliad cyhoeddus COVID-19 y Deyrnas Unedig yn hytrach na'i ddyblygu. Bydd yn adeiladu ar y dystiolaeth sylweddol sydd eisoes wedi'i gasglu, gan gynnwys canfyddiadau'r ymchwiliad, adolygiadau sydd wedi'u cyhoeddi, a gwaith perthnasol arall. Pan does dim digon o dystiolaeth neu bod yna fylchau'n parhau, bydd modd i'r panel archwilio materion mewn mwy o fanylder, a nodi beth arall sydd angen ei wneud. Mae ymchwiliad COVID-19 Prydain wedi gwneud cynnydd pellach sylweddol yn y misoedd diweddar, gyda llawer o dystiolaeth eisoes wedi'i ystyried, ac mae hyn yn tanlinellu'r angen i adolygiad Cymru ategu gwaith ymchwiliad statudol y Deyrnas Unedig yn hytrach na'i ddyblygu. Bydd profiadau bywyd yn rhan bwysig o waith yr adolygiad yng Nghymru. Ar eu pennau eu hunain, gall tystiolaeth wedi'i gyhoeddi a thystiolaeth ddogfennol ddim dangos sut mae newidiadau'n effeithio ar unigolion, teuluoedd a chymunedau. Felly, byddaf i'n gofyn i'r panel ystyried y ffordd orau o sicrhau bod lleisiau dinasyddion yn llywio ei waith ac yn ei helpu i farnu a yw gwelliannau'n gwneud gwahaniaeth ymarferol. Bydd y panel yn adrodd yn gyhoeddus. Trwy ganolbwyntio ar dystiolaeth a chanlyniadau, bydd y gwaith yn nodi'r cynnydd sydd wedi'i wneud a'r gwendidau sy'n parhau ac yn rhoi sicrwydd ynghylch pa mor barod a gwydn yw gwasanaethau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yma yng Nghymru. Pan fydd y panel yn dod o hyd i arferion da, byddwn am eu rhannu. Pan fydd yn dod o hyd i wendidau, ansicrwydd neu weithredu anghyflawn, byddwn yn ystyried ei gasgliadau'n ofalus ac yn ymateb yn dryloyw ac yn gweithredu i sicrhau eu bod yn cael sylw.
Official English translation
and whether those improvements have taken root and are delivering the impacts needed, and do we need to do more. Having read the module 6 report from the UK COVID-19 inquiry, it is clear to me that much work remains to be done in order to ensure that the lessons for Wales are properly learnt and thoroughly learnt. The panel will be expert led and independent of the Welsh Government. It will focus on health and adult social care, services that are substantially within devolved responsibility. They were a central part of Wales's response to the pandemic and were frequently raised as matters of deep concern by bereaved families and others significantly affected. We must—we must—be able to demonstrate, not simply assert, that the lessons have been understood, acted upon and sustained across the system. And we must be able to do this in a focused and timely manner. I'm pleased to announce, therefore, that Professor Daniel Wincott, professor of law and society at Cardiff University School of Law and Politics, has agreed to serve as the panel's independent chair. He brings extensive expertise in Welsh devolution; constitutional governance; public administration; and the operation of government. There will also be experts on the panel in healthcare systems, social care and public health, giving the panel the breadth of knowledge needed to test evidence and to challenge assumptions and also to challenge the Welsh Government. I will soon confirm membership, and I expect the panel to meet for the first time early in the new year. The review will complement, not duplicate, the UK COVID-19 public inquiry. It will make best use of the substantial evidence already collected, including inquiry findings, published reviews and other relevant work. Where evidence is insufficient or where gaps remain, it will be able to examine issues in greater depth and identify what more needs to be done. The UK COVID-19 inquiry has made significant further progress in recent months, with substantial evidence having already been considered, and that emphasises the need for the Welsh review to complement the work of the UK statutory inquiry rather than to duplicate it. Lived experience will be an important part of the work of the review in Wales. Alone, published and documentary evidence cannot show how changes are impacting communities, families and individuals, so I will therefore ask the panel to consider how best to ensure that citizens' voices inform its work and help to judge whether improvements are making a practical difference. The panel will report publicly, focusing on evidence. Outcome-focused assessment will identify progress and remaining vulnerabilities and provide assurance about the readiness and resilience of health and adult social care services here in Wales. When the panel finds good practice, we will want to share it. Where it finds weaknesses, uncertainty or incomplete implementation, we will consider its conclusions carefully and act to ensure that they are addressed and do so transparently.
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We must also ensure that the work of Government to learn from COVID-19 is strengthened, and that the lessons from the pandemic lead to practical improvements in terms of preparedness and resilience arrangements as swiftly as possible. In recent months, as a Government, we've provided substantive responses to both modules 3 and 4, with policy teams and relevant organisations implementing actions and beginning to implement those actions. We've adopted the national infection prevention and control manual developed by NHS Scotland; Public Health Wales is continuing to work with UK partners to ensure that guidance and future assessments of transmission risk consider the wider context, including how easily infection spreads, the environment,
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the environment, ventilation, the type of care setting and the care being provided. We've also concluded our year-long participation in Exercise Pegasus, the largest pandemic preparedness exercise ever undertaken in the UK, bringing partners together from across Government—NHS Wales, Public Health Wales, local resilience forums, the third sector and wider UK organisations. And the Welsh Government's report on the findings from this exercise will be published shortly. I'm confident, therefore, that the review that we are announcing today will reinforce the substantial range of activity that is taking place to futureproof our services and emergency response protocols. But Ministers remain accountable for progress in their portfolios, with collective responsibility across Cabinet and Government for ensuring that lessons lead to lasting change. I will bring together ministerial colleagues regularly to assess progress in implementing lessons and consider where further action is needed. This will maintain sustained attention and scrutiny across Government, ensuring that momentum is maintained and lessons continue to inform our work. Let me reiterate my earlier point: there is much work to be done to ensure that the lessons are properly learnt. Dirprwy Lywydd, learning lessons doesn't diminish the dedication shown by staff, volunteers, carers and communities across Wales, it honours their contribution by ensuring that public services can respond to future crises with confidence and clarity. Our commitment to action is also grounded in remembrance of those whose lives were lost and changed by the pandemic. We must remember those who lost their lives to COVID-19 and the deep impact this has had on their families, friends and communities. I have asked officials to consider how this Government can suitably mark the commemoration of the pandemic here in Wales. There is significant grief in our communities that is still keenly felt. We owe it to those communities to properly mark that grief and those bereavements. Our responsibility is to turn remembrance into resolve and lessons into lasting change. This review will help to test our progress honestly and transparently. We will act where needed and strengthen public confidence in our preparedness by so doing. Learning lessons from the pandemic that affected so many lives here in Wales is at the core of the steps I am announcing today, and that is how we will honour all of those affected and build a safer, more resilient Wales for the future. Diolch yn fawr.
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I thank the opposition spokesperson for those questions. Let me begin in reverse order. In order to properly learn lessons, you have to be clear what went wrong, and that is clearly part of the process of learning lessons. I was struck by the module 6, which you may have seen, recently published by the UK COVID inquiry, which looks in some depth at some of the issues in Wales around social care particularly. Some of the personal accounts that you've referenced there were very clear in that—I mean, in the failures identified by that module 6 report. So, I am clear that the review will need to learn lessons, and in order to learn lessons, will need to be able to identify what went wrong as part of learning lessons. The budget is within
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The budget is within the public inquiries line of the Welsh Government, and that is subject to the ongoing process. We've allocated that there will be money within that budget line, which is some millions—that is the budget line for the public inquiries unit of the Welsh Government. It is £1.5 million in terms of the initial budget that we've been looking at there for the year ahead. To the bereaved families, are we talking about the bereaved families being part of the review? I very much hope that they will play a full part in that review, and I will do anything I can to ensure that they can play that full part, and encourage the chair and the panel to involve them as far as is possible. You have identified the issues. It is a non-statutory review. We've been clear about that. I would expect every Welsh Government Minister who’s served in this place to support this review in completing its work and in learning lessons for the future. I think that is a reasonable expectation that I should place on Welsh Government Ministers and on the public sector in Wales.
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Diolch to the spokesperson for a wide range of questions. I'll begin by stating very clearly that the Plaid Cymru manifesto set out—and I've read it numerous times recently—that 'we will establish a review of Wales’s Covid response, its legacies and lessons for the future within the first year of the next Senedd term, with a targeted focus'. [Interruption.] The 2026 manifesto for this election. That is the manifesto upon which we stood and upon which we were elected to this Senedd. I would hope that the inquiry is as public and transparent as possible. The spokesperson will be aware that there are some issues of confidentiality around medical issues that would need to be dealt with, but I would expect the inquiry to be as public and transparent as possible. I would expect us as a Government—and we will—to set out all of our responses to the UK COVID-19 inquiry and our responses to those recommendations. There is a programme of work, as the spokesperson will be aware, in the UK COVID inquiry, and what my officials have been working on is a prospective programme of work for our review, which would complement that and would build upon the work and the evidence gathering that is being undertaken by the UK COVID inquiry. I, like the opposition spokesperson, pay tribute to the bereaved families, acknowledge their grief, and very much hope that their experiences will form a central part of the considerations of the review, as I have set out.
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Thank you to the spokesperson for those questions. We have been clear that the COVID review as set up by this Government will ensure that we learn those lessons. I would expect this Senedd and the people of Wales to hold us to account for learning those lessons. The measure of the success of this Government in this area will be how we learn those lessons. We have set out, you've set out, our colleagues have set out eloquently why those lessons desperately need to be learnt. They need to be learnt in a timely fashion, they need to be learnt in an effective fashion and that is why we are setting up the review today. You've made comments that the UK COVID inquiry would give no attention whatsoever to Wales—[Interruption.] A footnote, even, and thank you for—. I would gently suggest to the Member that it would be good to read the module 6 report, for example, which has recently been published, where there are over 100 comments regarding the performance of the Welsh Government and Wales in relation to social care. I'm afraid to say it is grim reading, it is damning reading, but it is clear in its view on the actions of the then Welsh Government. That, amongst many other things, persuades me that we need to learn those lessons promptly, effectively and efficiently, which is why we have settled on a review.
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To the Member, I think one of the reasons for establishing a review is that that is an effective way of complementing the work of the UK COVID inquiry and ensuring that there is a forum for a focus on Wales. I shall repeat the point that I have already made: I should very much hope that the COVID bereaved families and those who have suffered from COVID in all its forms will play a full and active part in the review. That is what I will be asking the chair of the review to ensure
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Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Today, I am updating Members on the next steps regarding the Glyndŵr National Park (Designation) Order submitted to Welsh Ministers by Natural Resources Wales in January of this year. Following careful consideration of the designation Order, the evidence assembled by Natural Resources Wales, the representations and objections received during the designation process, and the associated impact assessments, I have reached a provisional view in respect of the question of whether to confirm, confirm with modifications or to reject the designation Order. I am currently minded not to confirm the designation Order, and consequently minded not to proceed with a public local inquiry at this stage. Not confirming the designation Order and not proceeding with a public local inquiry will mean that no new national park is established at this time. I do want to be clear with Members that this is not a final decision. Before reaching a final decision, I intend to provide a short opportunity for everyone with an interest in this proposal to make further representations in respect of the provisional view that I have reached.
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Bydd Aelodau'n cofio bod y weinyddiaeth flaenorol wedi gofyn i Gyfoeth Naturiol Cymru i asesu'r achos o blaid parc cenedlaethol newydd. Yn dilyn rhaglen drwyadl o gasglu tystiolaeth, trafod ac ymgynghori, daeth Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru i'r casgliad bod ardal y parc cenedlaethol Glyndŵr arfaethedig yn bodloni'r profion statudol ar gyfer ei dynodi, a chyflwynodd Orchymyn dynodi i Weinidogion Cymru. Ers hynny, mae llwyth o dystiolaeth wedi'i chasglu. Daeth dros 400 o ymatebion i law yn ystod y cyfnod hysbysu. Roedd y rhain yn adlewyrchu amrywiaeth o safbwyntiau, gyda llawer o ymatebwyr yn cefnogi a llawer yn gwrthwynebu. Cyflwynwyd gwrthwynebiadau sylweddol hefyd, gan gynnwys gwrthwynebiadau gan bob un o'r pum awdurdod lleol yn yr ardal berthnasol. Teimladau cryf o blaid a theimladau cryf yn erbyn. Mae llawer wedi tynnu sylw at y manteision posibl: cyfleoedd i adfer natur, gwrthsefyll newid hinsawdd yn well, rhoi arweiniad strategol ar gyfer rheoli'r dirwedd, cefnogi hamddena a thwristiaeth gynaliadwy. Mae'r dystiolaeth gan Gyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn nodi nifer o gyfleoedd yn y meysydd hyn. Ar yr un pryd, mae cwestiynau pwysig wedi'u codi ar hyd y broses yn ymwneud â fforddiadwyedd, gofynion cyllidol y dyfodol, gwerth am arian, trefniadau llywodraethu ac effeithiau posibl ar gymunedau lleol, seilwaith, datblygiadau ynni, tai a'r iaith Gymraeg. Mae'r pryderon yma wedi'u codi gan awdurdodau lleol a chynrychiolwyr y sectorau busnes a rheoli tir. Wrth i fi ddod i gasgliad dros dro, dwi wedi ystyried y materion yma'n fanwl. Dwi wedi ystyried canlyniadau'r asesiad effaith rheoleiddiol a'r asesiad effaith integredig gafodd eu paratoi gan swyddogion. Mae'r dadansoddiad yn nodi manteision posibl ynghyd ag ansicrwydd sylweddol. Mae'r asesiad effaith rheoleiddiol yn amcangyfrif costau sefydlu o dros £11 miliwn ac yn nodi'r costau wedi hynny sy'n gysylltiedig â sefydlu a gweithredu awdurdod parc cenedlaethol newydd. Mae hefyd yn nodi ansicrwydd yn y sylfaen dystiolaeth.
Official English translation
Members will be aware that the previous administration asked Natural Resources Wales to assess the case for a new national park. Following an extensive programme of evidence gathering, engagement and consultation, NRW concluded that the area comprising the proposed Glyndŵr national park did meet the statutory tests for designation, and submitted the designation Order to Welsh Ministers. Since then, a significant volume of evidence has been gathered. Over 400 responses were received during the notification period. These reflected a variety of views, with many respondents supporting the proposal and many opposing it. Significant objections were also submitted, including objections from every one of the five local authorities in the area. There were strong feelings in favour and strong feelings against. Many have highlighted the potential benefits: these include opportunities to enhance nature recovery, strengthen climate resilience, provide strategic leadership for landscape management, and support recreation and sustainable tourism. The evidence presented by NRW identifies a number of opportunities in these areas. At the same time, important questions have been raised throughout the process relating to affordability, funding requirements in the future, value for money, governance arrangements and potential impacts on local communities, infrastructure, energy developments, housing and the Welsh language. These concerns have been raised by local authorities, businesses and land managers. In reaching my provisional view, I have carefully considered these issues. I have considered the findings of the regulatory impact assessment and integrated impact assessment prepared by officials. That analysis highlights both possible benefits and significant uncertainties. The regulatory impact assessment estimates establishment costs of over £11 million and identifies ongoing costs associated with establishing and operating a new national park authority. It also notes uncertainty in the evidence base.
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Fel dwi eisoes wedi'i nodi, gwnaeth y pum awdurdod lleol yn yr ardal wrthwynebu'r dynodiad. Er fy mod wedi ystyried yn ofalus yr holl sylwadau sydd wedi dod i law, dwi'n cydnabod ei bod yn bwysig iawn deall barn yr awdurdodau lleol yma, sydd eisoes yn chwarae rhan wrth gyflawni llawer o’r canlyniadau a geisir trwy ddynodi ac a fyddai’n bartneriaid pwysig pe bai parc cenedlaethol yn cael ei sefydlu yn y pen draw. Dwi'n ystyried felly fod gwerth mawr mewn parhau i gadw ffocws cryf ar alluogi'r dynodiadau a'r partneriaethau presennol yma i gyflawni ar gyfer natur, hinsawdd, treftadaeth ddiwylliannol, hamdden a chymunedau lleol, tra'n parhau i fynd ar drywydd yr amcanion a nodwyd drwy broses ddynodi parc Glyndŵr drwy fecanweithiau eraill. Er enghraifft, rŷn ni'n cymryd camau ymarferol i adfer natur ac adeiladu gwydnwch hinsawdd ar draws y gogledd-ddwyrain. Drwy raglen genedlaethol mawndir Llywodraeth Cymru, cyflawnwyd gwaith adfer sylweddol o fewn tirwedd genedlaethol bryniau Clwyd a dyffryn Dyfrdwy, gan gynnwys safle rhostir Llandegla sydd o ddiddordeb gwyddonol arbennig, gan ddod â thua 120 hectar o fawndir i gyflwr gwell. Mae'r dystiolaeth yn dangos bod llawer o'r heriau a nodwyd gan Gyfoeth Naturiol Cymru eisoes dan ystyriaeth gan raglenni presennol y Llywodraeth hon. Yn eu plith mae ein gwaith ar adfer bioamrywiaeth, adfer mawndiroedd, rhwydweithiau natur, y cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy, gan gynnwys Ffermio Bro, gweithredu ar hinsawdd a natur, twristiaeth gynaliadwy a buddsoddi ehangach yng nghefn gwlad. Yn bwysig, mae'r polisïau yma eisoes yn cyflawni canlyniadau gwirioneddol i gymunedau, ffermwyr a'r amgylchedd. Mae Ffermio Bro, ein cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy pwrpasol ar gyfer tirweddau dynodedig, yn cefnogi ffermwyr i weithredu’n ymarferol ar gyfer adferiad natur, gwydnwch hinsawdd a rheoli tir cynaliadwy. Mae ffermwyr yn fferm Llangwyfan yn adfer gwrychoedd i ailgysylltu coetir hynafol a gwella rheoli coetiroedd i gryfhau cynefinoedd ar gyfer fflora a ffawna brodorol. Mae hyn yn helpu i greu tirwedd fwy cysylltiedig a gwydn. Mae'n ymddangos i mi, felly, y gellir cyflawni'r amcanion a gafodd eu nodi gan y broses ddynodi trwy fecanweithiau amgen, heb sefydlu awdurdod parc cenedlaethol newydd a heb ysgwyddo'r ymrwymiadau ariannol y byddai ar y dynodiad eu hangen wedi hynny. Wrth edrych ymlaen, dwi'n credu bydd yna gyfleoedd pellach i sicrhau'r canlyniadau hyn drwy waith y Llywodraeth, drwy ein cynllun gweithredu hinsawdd a natur sydd ar ein gweill, ein strategaeth ddiwylliant, ein dyletswydd diogelu gwledig a chynaliadwyedd amgylcheddol arfaethedig, a fydd yn cryfhau'r ystyriaeth o gynaliadwyedd amgylcheddol, gwydnwch hinsawdd ac effeithiau gwledig ar draws penderfyniadau'r sector cyhoeddus. Dwi hefyd am ystyried a ellir cryfhau'r trefniadau presennol ar gyfer tirweddau cenedlaethol, ochr yn ochr â dulliau integredig eraill sy'n cefnogi adferiad natur, rheoli tir cynaliadwy a chymunedau gwledig ffyniannus. Wedi dweud hynny i gyd, dwi'n cydnabod arwyddocâd y cynnig hwn sydd o'n blaenau heddiw a'r diddordeb mawr sydd ynddo. Fy nghyfrifoldeb i yw dod i gasgliad rhesymol ar sail yr holl wybodaeth berthnasol. Am y rheswm hwnnw, dwi ddim am wneud penderfyniad terfynol heddiw. Yn hytrach, dwi’n gwahodd unrhyw barti i gyflwyno sylwadau pellach cyn inni wneud penderfyniad terfynol. Dyma gyfle felly i awdurdodau lleol, sefydliadau cynrychioladol, busnesau, grwpiau cymunedol ac aelodau o'r cyhoedd gyflwyno unrhyw dystiolaeth, dadleuon neu ystyriaethau materol ychwanegol y credant y dylai Gweinidogion Cymru eu hystyried. Gall pobl a sefydliadau gyflwyno'u barn drwy e-bost neu drwy'r post, a bydd y manylion ar wefan Llywodraeth Cymru wrth i ni ddod i ddiwedd y datganiad hwn yn y Senedd heddiw. Byddaf hefyd yn cyhoeddi dolenni i ystod o'r dystiolaeth sydd wedi'i ddatblygu yn ystod y broses hyd yma i lywio'r ystyriaethau ymhellach. Byddwn i'n annog pobl i gyflwyno sylwadau yn benodol sy'n darparu tystiolaeth neu wybodaeth newydd nad ydynt eisoes wedi eu hystyried drwy'r gwaith helaeth a wnaed hyd yn hyn. Nid bwriad y camau hyn yw ailadrodd ymarferion ymgynghori cynharach; yn hytrach, mae'n bwriadu sicrhau bod yr holl dystiolaeth berthnasol wedi ei hystyried yn briodol ac yn rhesymol cyn gwneud penderfyniad terfynol. Ar ôl i'r cyfnod hwn ddod i ben, mewn pedair wythnos, bydd swyddogion yn dadansoddi'r sylwadau a dderbyniwyd ac yn rhoi cyngor pellach i mi. Yna byddaf yn ystyried yr holl gyflwyniadau yn ofalus cyn dod i benderfyniad terfynol, ynghyd â chyhoeddi fy rhesymau. Mae tirweddau cymunedau a threftadaeth ddiwylliannol y gogledd-ddwyrain yn bwysig yn genedlaethol. Beth bynnag yw'r canlyniad terfynol, mae'r dystiolaeth a gasglwyd dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf wedi tynnu sylw at eu rhinweddau arbennig a'r heriau maen nhw'n eu hwynebu. Dwi'n parhau i ymrwymo i weithio gyda phartneriaid i sicrhau canlyniadau cadarnhaol i'r tirweddau, i'r cymunedau a chenedlaethau'r dyfodol. Nodwch eto: mae'r cyhoeddiad hwn yn cynrychioli barn dros dro yn unig. Dwi'n annog pawb sydd â diddordeb i ymgysylltu'n adeiladol ar y camau nesaf, fel bod unrhyw benderfyniad terfynol yn cael ei lywio gan yr ystyriaeth lawnaf bosib o'r dystiolaeth sydd o'n blaenau. Diolch yn fawr.
Official English translation
As I have already noted, all five local authorities in the area objected to the designation. While I have carefully considered all representations received, I do recognise the importance of understanding the views of these local authorities, which already play a role in delivering many of the outcomes that are sought through designation and which would be important partners should a national park ultimately be established. I therefore consider that there is great value in continuing to maintain a strong focus on enabling those existing designations and partnerships to deliver for nature, climate, cultural heritage, recreation and local communities, while continuing to pursue the objectives identified through the Glyndŵr park designation process through other mechanisms. For example, we are taking practical action to restore nature and build climate resilience across the north-east. Through the Welsh Government’s national peatland programme, significant restoration work has been delivered within the Clwydian range and Dee valley national landscape, including at Llandegla moor site, which is of special scientific interest, bringing around 120 hectares of peatland into a more favourable condition. The evidence demonstrates that many of the challenges identified by Natural Resources Wales are already being addressed through this Welsh Government's current programmes. These include our work on biodiversity recovery, peatland restoration, nature networks, the sustainable farming scheme, including Ffermio Bro, climate and nature action, sustainable tourism and wider rural investment. Importantly, these policies are already delivering real outcomes for communities, farmers and the environment. Ffermio Bro, our bespoke sustainable farming scheme for designated landscapes, is supporting farmers to deliver practical action for nature recovery, climate resilience and sustainable land management. Farmers at Llangwyfan farm are restoring hedgerows to reconnect ancient woodland and improve woodland management to strengthen habitats for native flora and fauna. This is helping to create a more connected and resilient landscape. It therefore appears to me that the objectives identified through the designation process may be delivered through alternative mechanisms, without establishing a new national park authority and without incurring the ongoing financial commitments that the designation would require. Looking ahead, I believe there will be further opportunities to secure these outcomes through the Welsh Government's work, through our climate and nature action plan, our culture strategy, our proposed rural-proofing and environmental sustainability duty, which will strengthen the consideration of environmental sustainability, climate resilience and rural impacts across public sector decision making. I will also consider whether existing arrangements for national landscapes can be further strengthened, alongside other integrated approaches that support nature recovery, sustainable land management and thriving rural communities. Having said all that, I do recognise the significance of this proposal in front of us today and the strong interest it continues to generate. My responsibility is to reach a reasonable conclusion on the basis of all the relevant information. It's for that reason that I am not making a final decision today. Instead, I invite any party to submit further representations before reaching a final decision. This is therefore an opportunity for local authorities, representative organisations, businesses, community groups and members of the public to present any additional evidence, arguments or material considerations that they believe Welsh Ministers should take into account. People and organisations can submit their views via e-mail or through the post, the details of which will be on the Welsh Government's website as we bring the statement in the Senedd today to a close. I will also be publishing links to a range of evidence that has been developed during the process so far to further inform these considerations. I would encourage people to provide new evidence, in particular, or information that has not already been considered through the extensive work carried out to date. The intention of these steps is not to repeat earlier consultation exercises; rather, it is intended to ensure that all relevant evidence has been properly considered and in a reasonable manner before a final decision is made. Once this period has concluded, in four weeks' time, officials will analyse the representations received and provide further advice to me. Then I will consider all submissions carefully before coming to a final decision, as well as publishing my reasons. The landscapes, communities and cultural heritage of the north-east are nationally important. Whatever the final outcome, the evidence assembled over recent years has highlighted both their special qualities and the challenges they face. I remain committed to working with partners to secure positive outcomes for those landscapes, communities and future generations. Note again that this announcement represents a provisional view only. I encourage all interested parties to engage constructively with the next steps so that any final decision is informed by the fullest possible consideration of the evidence before us. Thank you very much.
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Thank you to the opposition spokesperson for his comments. My intention, Dirprwy Lywydd, is not to get into immense detail in my responses, because we are now in a phase of listening. I have set out the rationale for why I will be listening over the next four weeks before I make my final decision. But the points are clearly well made by the opposition spokesperson, and I thank him for those comments.
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Thank you to the opposition spokesperson for those questions. There are some points of substance there. I've heard the view expressed clearly, which I will obviously take into account, and I will reiterate my request to anyone who has an interest in these matters to write to the Government through the Welsh Government website or through the Royal Mail to offer us their views. I will welcome those views, and I will consider them carefully and reasonably. It is a period of four weeks, and that is the timetable. It would be my intention, and I have asked my officials, to assess and analyse those representations in short order, because I do not believe that uncertainty helps anyone. I would hope to be in a position to update this Senedd either by Christmas or early in the new year as to the next steps—the next step either being the commissioning of a public inquiry or a rejection of the designation Order. There is a point raised here about whether we should always turn to a public inquiry or to a 54:46 result on a consultation to guide us as a Government. Fundamentally, it is my belief that Government Ministers must make political judgments. At times, those judgments will be balanced, and there will be people who are proponents of one side or the other, but we have to consider the evidence carefully and come to a conclusion. That is what I have sought to do here, and I have set out a follow-on process that will allow people to make further representations. Diolch.
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I thank the Member for those generally positive comments. As my colleague has highlighted, there was no money allocated in the previous Government's budget for this purpose, which I think is interesting, shall we say. You make some interesting points more broadly about the governance of national parks. It is something that I shall certainly be considering and my colleagues will certainly be considering. The landscape of governance in Wales is potentially more complicated than it needs to be. How we move from here to where we would like to be is another question and I'm sure we will have lively debates in this Senedd around some of those issues. But it is a point well made.
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Diolch i’r Aelod. Mi allaf i gadarnhau na fyddwn ni'n gwario ffortiwn, ond yn argymell pobl i hala e-bost atom ni gyda’u sylwadau nhw yn y cam nesaf—nag ar y dadansoddi chwaith. Hynny yw, mae angen i ni symud ymlaen i ddod i benderfyniad rhesymol a chall ar y materion yma rhag blaen.
Official English translation
I thank the Member. I can confirm that we won't be spending a fortune, but recommending that people send their comments via e-mail in the next phase. We won't be spending a great amount of money on the analysis either. That is, we need to make a wise decision on these issues as a matter of urgency.
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I thank the Member for the question. I think allusion has been made to the sum spent by a previous Government on this programme, and I've given a commitment to the Senedd that, over this next period, we will be spending very little indeed in simply assessing the information we get in, and affording an opportunity for people to e-mail us. I understand the point made that it should be rejected permanently today. I am minded towards that point of view, but, for the reasons I've outlined, I have set out that extra short process, so that interested parties—. Because it is not a matter of consensus, even across this Chamber, but I am minded to make that decision. I have set out the reasons why I am minded to make that decision, but I have also set out a short timescale for reaching that decision. You raise an interesting point, and maybe I may make some positive points about the previous Government here. The financial context that we face is clearly an issue. I think, if we were in a position, if we were back in the halcyon dates of public sector growth in spending between 1997 and 2005, we might be having a different discussion here. I'm sceptical about layers of bureaucracy generally, but if the financial position was different—. I think that is an issue. I also think—and it is something that I'm hoping to bring to my role, and colleagues are hoping to bring to their role—that we have, as a Senedd, and as a Government in past years, sought out major pieces of legislation, major new initiatives, without following through every time on working out what the outcomes will be for people in communities right across Wales. And if we can bring that focus back to outcomes and to making an improvement to people's lives, we can improve housing, the Welsh language, businesses, tourism, sustainability, in a more integrated way. So, I think there is an opportunity there to bring things together across Government. As I've set out, I am not persuaded that that requires a new national park in the Glyndŵr area, as of today. I've offered that opportunity for people to make further representations, and I welcome all comments on that point. Diolch yn fawr.
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Mae'n rhaid cyfaddef fy mod i fymryn yn siomedig â sylwadau fy nghyfaill o'r cefn yn fanna. Dwi'n un sydd wedi mwynhau mynyddoedd y Berwyn—dwi wedi rhedeg mynyddoedd y Berwyn ar adegau. Dwi'n cydnabod ac yn cytuno â'r Aelod ar ei bwyntiau ar bwysigrwydd ein hardaloedd naturiol a'r cyfle sydd gyda ni fel Llywodraeth i wella hynny. Mae yna sawl strategaeth dwi wedi eu hamlygu yn fy natganiad heddiw a fydd yn gwneud yn union hynny: twristiaeth gynaliadwy, cymunedau gwledig cynaliadwy, cymunedau gwledig ffyniannus. Dyna'r cyfle sydd gyda ni wrth gymryd camau reit ar draws y Llywodraeth i wella pethau. Dyna dwi am ei wneud, a dyna sydd yn pwyso ar fy meddwl i wrth symud tuag at benderfyniad ar y materion hyn.
Official English translation
I have to admit that I'm slightly disappointed by the comments made by my colleague behind me there. I am one who has enjoyed the Berwyn range—I've run in the Berwyn mountains on occasion. I do acknowledge and agree with the Member on the points that he's made on the importance of our natural areas and the opportunity that we have as a Government to improve that. There are a number of strategies that I've highlighted in my statement today that will do exactly that: sustainable tourism, sustainable rural communities, prosperous rural communities. Those are the opportunities that we have in taking steps across Government to make improvements. That's what I want to do, and that's what's at the forefront of my mind as I move towards a decision on these issues.
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I thank the Member. I can give that reassurance to communities. I can give that reassurance to everyone who will be submitting comments during that four-week period. I have committed to the Senedd to aim to give a final decision by Christmas, and that is my commitment to the Senedd. I believe that minimises the risk of uncertainty and disruption that these proposals have created to communities right across the area affected.
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Could I ask you to clarify, are you talking about nationality as self-recorded or are you talking about citizenship and UK passport holders, because there is a difference between both?
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Llywydd, I'd like to raise a point of order about the proposing Member's speech at the beginning. I believe that there was an error of fact and I invite the Member, in her response, to correct that. There was a conflation of nation, nationality and citizenship. The census provides us with accurate data on social rented housing in Cardiff and can be accessed by all Members on the census website. Of social rented housing, there were 19,400 UK passport holders, and 1,800—less than 10 per cent—who held other passports. Of rented from the local authority, there were 19,605 UK passport holders. Other passport holders were 1,848. So, I invite the Member, as a matter of order, to correct the record. Passport holders are those numbers. I believe the Member was talking about self-described nationality. Diolch, Lywydd.
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