WelshTrefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport
Yn fy natganiad blaenoriaethau yr wythnos diwethaf, amlinellais fy ngweledigaeth a’m huchelgais i weld Cymru'n dod yn bwerdy diwylliannol a chwaraeon, gyda’r Gymraeg a'n treftadaeth yn ganolog i hynny. Mae sicrhau tegwch o ran mynediad, cynrychiolaeth a chyfranogiad hefyd yn rhan allweddol o'r weledigaeth.
Official English translation
In my priorities statement last week, I outlined my vision and my ambition for Wales to become a cultural and sporting powerhouse, with the Welsh language and our heritage central to that. Ensuring equity in terms of access, representation and participation is also a key part of that vision.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn hwnnw. Dwi'n meddwl eich bod chi'n codi pwynt allweddol o bwysig o ran ein treftadaeth ni, ein hanes ni ac, efallai, y diffyg dysgu sydd wedi bod o'r hanes a'r dreftadaeth honno. Mae'r ffaith bod unrhyw un yn meddwl bod Owain Glyndŵr yn enw anodd i'w ddweud yn y genedl roedd o mor falch o'i harwain yn dweud y cyfan. Fedraf i ddim meddwl am unrhyw wlad arall lle y byddai hynny'n digwydd. Dwi'n meddwl bod yn rhaid i ni sicrhau bod mwy o hanes yn cael ei ddysgu yn ein hysgolion ni. Yn amlwg, mae yna ymrwymiadau ym maniffesto Plaid Cymru o ran gwarchod enwau lleoedd hefyd, sy'n eithriadol o bwysig. Dwi'n credu ein bod ni wedi gweld ers hynny nifer o sefydliadau yn arddel y Gymraeg—os ydyn ni'n meddwl am barc Bannau Brycheiniog neu Eryri, lle ceir dim ond y Gymraeg. Dwi'n meddwl bod yna angen lot mwy o gydweithio rhyngof fi a, dwi'n gwybod, y Gweinidog Cabinet dros Addysg a'r Gymraeg, i sicrhau bod pawb â'r hyder i ddefnyddio'r geiriau Cymraeg, ond hefyd fod ganddyn nhw'r hawl i ddysgu am hanes Cymru.
Official English translation
I thank the Member for that question. I think you raise an incredibly important point there in terms of our heritage, our history and, perhaps, the lack of learning that there has been of that history and heritage. The fact that anyone thinks that Owain Glyndŵr is a difficult name to pronounce in this nation that he was so proud to lead tells us everything. I can't think of any other country where that sort of thing would happen. I think we do have to ensure that more history is taught in our schools. Clearly, there are promises in Plaid Cymru's manifesto in terms of protecting place names as well, which is also extremely important. I think we have seen since then a number of organisations cherishing the Welsh language. Just think of Bannau Brycheiniog park or Eryri, where the Welsh name alone is used. I think we need a lot more collaboration between me and, I know, the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, to ensure that everyone has the confidence to use those Welsh words, but also that they have the right to learn about Wales's history.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn hwnnw. Yn sicr, dwi yn cytuno efo hynny. Mae hanes Cymru ac mae Cymru wedi eu cyfoethogi gan y ffaith bod gennym ni draddodiad o bobl yn ymgartrefu yma ac wedyn yn rhan annatod o'n cymdeithas ni. Mi welais i fideo yn ddiweddar yma gan y Welsh Refugee Council a oedd yn sôn am deulu ym Mhontypridd, yr Orsis. Maen nhw wedi bod yma ers cenedlaethau ac yn rhan annatod o gymeriad y dref rŵan, efo'u caffis, y Bracchis ac ati. Mae hi'n eithriadol o bwysig ein bod ni'n cofio nad peth newydd ydy pobl yn dod i Gymru a'n bod ni'n dathlu'r cyfraniad arbennig y mae pobl wedi'i wneud.
Dwi'n eithriadol o falch o'r gwaith y mae Amgueddfa Cymru yn Amgueddfa Lleng Rufeinig Cymru yn ei wneud o ran sicrhau bod stori'r bobl a oedd yma yng Nghymru yn cael ei dweud ochr yn ochr â'r Rhufeiniaid rŵan. Mae yna gymaint o storïau dydyn ni'n dal ddim yn eu dweud yn dda yma yng Nghymru, ac mae yna ymrwymiad pendant gan Blaid Cymru i sicrhau bod hanes Cymru yn ei gyfanrwydd yn cael ei ddysgu, ond hefyd, drwof fi, yn cael ei ddathlu a chyfleoedd i bobl ymgysylltu â fo.
Official English translation
I thank the Member for that question. Certainly, I do agree with that. Wales's history and Wales have been enriched by the fact that we do have a tradition of people making their homes here and then becoming an integral part of our community. I saw a video recently by the Welsh Refugee Council that was about a family in Pontypridd, the Orsi family. They have been here for generations and are an integral part of the character of the town now, with their Bracchis, cafes, and so on. It is crucially important that we remember that people coming to Wales isn't a new thing and that we celebrate the special contribution that people have made.
I'm very proud of the work that Amgueddfa Cymru and the National Roman Legion Museum are doing in terms of ensuring that the stories of the people that were here in Wales are told side by side with the Romans now. There are so many stories that we still don't tell as well as we could here in Wales, and Plaid Cymru has a clear commitment to ensure that the history of Wales in its entirety is taught, but also, through me, is celebrated and that there are opportunities for people to engage with it.
Diolch. Dwi yn ymwybodol fod nifer o'r cwestiynau hynny yn ymwneud â chyfrifoldebau'r Gweinidog Cabinet dros Addysg a'r Gymraeg, ond yr hyn sydd yn wahanol o ran y Llywodraeth hon ydy ein bod ni'n cydweithio fel Gweinidogion, ac fy mod i'n bendant iawn, fel roeddwn i'n sôn yn fy natganiad o ran blaenoriaethau diwylliant yr wythnos ddiwethaf, fod y Gymraeg yn mynd i fod yn rhan ganolog o fy mhortffolio i ac o ran y strategaeth ddiwylliant newydd.
Mi wnes i fwynhau yn arw mynychu Tafwyl. Roedd nifer o Aelodau wedi mwynhau Tafwyl. Mae hi'n ŵyl bwysig dros ben. Yr hyn rydyn ni eisiau sicrhau ydy ein bod ni fel Llywodraeth yn edrych ar y digwyddiadau sy'n digwydd ledled Cymru a sicrhau ein bod ni'n gweithio efo nhw i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n gynaliadwy i'r dyfodol, oherwydd un o'r heriau glywsom ni pan oeddwn i'n aelod o'r pwyllgor diwylliant a'r Gymraeg oedd mentrau iaith yn sôn am yr heriau o ran costau cynyddol, ond hefyd mynd o flwyddyn i flwyddyn o ran y cyllid hwnnw. Drwy gael strategaeth hirdymor ac edrych ar yr ystod y bethau y byddwn ni'n eu cefnogi, rwy'n gobeithio wedyn y bydd hynny'n gallu rhoi sicrwydd i wyliau bod yna ddyfodol iddyn nhw, ond hefyd ein bod ni'n gallu bod yn strategol o ran ein buddsoddiad a sicrhau'r gwaddol gorau posib, a chydgysylltu efo addysg lle bo hynny'n briodol hefyd.
Official English translation
Thank you. I'm aware that a number of those questions relate to the responsibilities of the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh language, but what is different in terms of this Government is that we are collaborating as Ministers, and that I am very clear, as I said in my priorities statement last week, that the Welsh language is going to be a central part of my portfolio and in terms of the new culture strategy.
I enjoyed very much attending Tafwyl. A number of Members also enjoyed attending Tafwyl. It's a very important festival. What we want to ensure is that we as a Government do look at these events that happen across Wales and ensure that we work with them to ensure that they are sustainable for the future, because one of the challenges we heard about when I was a member of the culture committee was mentrau iaith talking about the challenges in terms of the rising costs, but also funding provided on a yearly basis. By having a long-term strategy and looking at the range of things that we will be supporting, I hope that we will then be able to give assurance to festivals that there will be a future for them, but also that we will be able to be strategic as regards investment and ensuring the best possible legacy for them, and engaging with education where that's appropriate too.
Ein gweledigaeth fel Llywodraeth yw i bawb gael mynediad teg a chyfle i gymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon. Drwy Chwaraeon Cymru, mi fyddwn yn parhau i ariannu Chwaraeon Anabledd Cymru i helpu i droi'r weledigaeth hon yn realiti. Mae yna ymrwymiad trawslywodraethol i gefnogi'r weledigaeth hon.
Official English translation
Our vision as a Government is for everyone to have fair access and opportunity to participate in sport. Through Sport Wales, we will continue to fund Disability Sport Wales to help turn this vision into reality. There is a cross-governmental commitment to support this vision.
Thank you to the Member for raising those really, really crucially important points. As you will have heard last week, we've committed to a facilities review, and that is to ensure that we understand what barriers are currently in place to stop people from being able to participate. We're clear that the investment we need to make over the next few years actually means that we're not imposing barriers with that investment, and that everything is thought through so that investment is accessible to all.
There's also the wider point where we have been working very closely to look at what events we can host here in Wales. For example, we have the para fencing taking place later this year. I think it's really important that people in Wales see high-quality sportspeople, and, irrespective of whether they are disabled or not, that we celebrate sports and sportsmanship, but that that also leads to others being able to participate. Because there's no point attracting these sports and events to Wales, and people in Wales are inspired by them but there's no opportunity to take part. So, I'm very keen that we don't just attract those events, but that there's a real and lasting legacy from those events. Unfortunately, that hasn't always been the case.
Diolch i'r Aelod am godi'r pwyntiau eithriadol o bwysig hynny. Fel roeddwn i'n sôn yn fy ymateb cychwynnol a'r wythnos diwethaf, mae'n rhaid i ni sicrhau bod y buddsoddiad rydym ni'n ei wneud yn gyfan gwbl gynhwysol, ac mae honna wedi bod yn neges glir yn y sgyrsiau dwi wedi bod yn eu cael efo Chwaraeon Cymru. Ac yn sicr, mi fyddwn ni eisiau sicrhau ein bod ni'n gwneud popeth o fewn ein gallu i sicrhau bod chwaraeon ac ati yn gyfan gwbl gynhwysol. Felly, byddwn i'n hapus iawn i ddiweddaru'r Senedd hon wrth i'r gwaith hwnnw fynd rhagddo.
Official English translation
I thank the Member for raising those very important points. As I mentioned in my initial response, and my response last week, we need to ensure that the investment that we make is entirely inclusive, and that's been a clear message in the conversations that I have been having with Sport Wales. And certainly, we will want to ensure that we do everything within our power to ensure that sports and so on are entirely inclusive. So, I'd be happy to update this Senedd as that work progresses.
Diolch. Mae hwn yn bwynt pwysig dros ben, a dyna'r union weledigaeth roeddwn i'n amlinellu'r wythnos diwethaf. Mae'n rhaid i'r hyn rydyn ni'n ei wneud fod yn gyfan gwbl gynhwysol. Dwi wedi herio, pan oeddwn i'n lefarydd yr wrthblaid, o ran y digwyddiadau mawr yma, beth ydy'r gwaddol gwirioneddol? Beth ydy'r budd i bobl yma yng Nghymru? Weithiau, roedd y Llywodraeth flaenorol yn credu mai dim ond y niferoedd yn dod i Gymru oedd hynny, a dwi ddim yn meddwl bod hynny'n ddigon da. Os ydy pobl yn byw yn ein cymunedau ni, yn gallu gweld digwyddiad mawr yn digwydd, yn cael eu heffeithio gan y ffaith bod digwyddiad mawr yn digwydd, ond ddim yn gallu cael mynediad, efallai fod hynny hefyd oherwydd cost mynychu. Felly, y ffordd y bydd y Llywodraeth yma yn mynd ati'n wahanol ydy drwy sicrhau bod y cwestiynau yna o'r dechrau. Mae'n amlwg bod y gwaith wedi dechrau gyda Ewros 2028, ond dwi wedi cael sicrwydd gan swyddogion fod gen i'n dal amser i roi fy stamp fy hun a stamp y Llywodraeth hon, a hefyd adlewyrchu'r sylwadau rydw i wedi'u clywed heddiw, ar y gwaith hynny. A byddwn i'n gofyn i unrhyw Aelodau sydd â syniadau o ran Ewros 2028, sy'n cynrychioli Caerdydd yn benodol, i rannu'r rheini efo fi, ond dwi hefyd eisiau sicrhau bod yna waddol Cymru gyfan o ran Ewros 2028. Dwi eisiau pobl i ddod i Gymru a mynd i rannau eraill o Gymru yn ystod y twrnament hefyd.
Official English translation
Thank you. Yes, this is an extremely important point, and that's the exact vision that I set out last week. What we do must be entirely inclusive. When I was an opposition spokesperson, I challenged these major events and asked what the real legacy is. What is the benefit for people here in Wales? On occasion, the previous Government seemed to think that it was only the numbers coming to Wales that was important, but I don't think that's enough. If people living in our communities can see a major event happening and are affected by that major event, but can't access it, then that could perhaps be because of cost issues. So, this Government's approach, different to the last one, will be to ensure that those questions are asked from the very outset. Clearly, the work has started with the Euro 2028 tournament, but I have been given assurance by officials that I still have a chance to put my own stamp and this Government's stamp on that, and to reflect the comments that I've heard today in that work. And I would ask any Members who have ideas in terms of Euro 2028, representing Cardiff specifically, to share those ideas with me. But I also want to ensure that there is an all-Wales legacy in terms of the Euros, and I want people to come to Wales and to visit other parts of Wales during the tournament too.
Diolch i'r llefarydd am y cwestiwn, a hefyd diolch am y gefnogaeth i'n polisi nofio ni. Elfen bwysig ohono ydy nofio, ie, ond hefyd diogelwch yn y dŵr, oherwydd rydyn ni hefyd yn gwybod nad dim ond nofio mae pobl mewn dŵr, ond mae gweithgareddau rŵan o ran paddleboarding ac ati. Mae yna lot o gynnydd wedi bod mewn pobl yn cael eu hanafu neu'n boddi, ac ati, drwy'r math yna o weithgareddau hefyd. Felly, mae'r elfen yna'n eithriadol o bwysig, a diolch am y gefnogaeth.
O ran cyllid ychwanegol, yr hyn ddaeth yn amlwg i fi o ddod yn Weinidog ydy nad oedd yr holl gyllideb a oedd gen i wedi’i neilltuo yn barod o ran chwaraeon—nad oedd hi wedi’i gwario. Felly, beth dwi wedi bod yn ei wneud ydy ailbroffilio honno i sicrhau ein bod ni'n ceisio cael yr impact mwyaf posib, tra bod y gwaith yn mynd rhagddo o ran datblygu'r hyn sydd ei angen ar gyfer cyllidebau'r dyfodol. Felly, dyna'r ymrwymiad: i ddefnyddio beth sydd gennym ni yn fwy effeithiol o fewn y gyllideb eleni. Ond mae'r gwaith trawsbortffolio hwnnw eisoes wedi dechrau er mwyn edrych ar gyllidebau'r dyfodol.
Official English translation
I thank the spokesperson for that question, and also thank him for the support for our swimming policy. An important element of that is swimming, yes, but also water safety, because we also know that people don't just swim in water, but there are water activities like paddleboarding and so on. There's been an increase in people getting injured or in unfortunate drownings, and so on, through those kinds of activities too, so that element is incredibly important, and thank you for the support on that.
In terms of additional funding, what became obvious to me when I became the Minister was that all of the budget that I had was not already allocated in terms of sport—that it hadn't been spent. So, what I've been doing is recategorising that to ensure that we can try to have the biggest possible impact, while that work is continuing in terms of developing what's needed for future budgets. So, that's the commitment: to use what we have more effectively within this year's budget. But that cross-portfolio work has already begun in terms of future budgets.
Thank you. That's exactly it: we're having those conversations now. I've already had a bilateral meeting with the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, because, yes, you're right to identify that investment, but if you can't access them after hours, or there's an extra burden on schools, rather than it being worked into the budget in terms of how do you resource it so that it can be open—. Also, things that have been brought to my attention include a lack of floodlights, so that it's an all-year-round facility. In some countries—and there are some parts of Wales—people have canopies as well, which means that it can be all-weather. So, in this heat you could still participate, or when we have rain, you can still participate. That's why we want to look at this strategically. We've been very clear that that needs to happen, we're working through how that can happen, but certainly it's about investing every pound to have the greatest impact. My question is why have those sporting facilities there if they can't be accessed and they're locked up during the holidays. I don't think that's an acceptable position.
I would hope that the fact that we're talking about this—I've had fewer than 40 days as a Minister and I've already had those discussions and been very clear on where we want to get to—would provide the assurance that the Member is seeking that this is a priority for us as a Government. I cannot at this point give you a timetable, because those discussions are ongoing, but the very clear steer that I've given is that I need to understand why this isn't happening and what needs to happen to change this.
There's an agreement between both myself and the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language that this needs to happen—that our budgets can't be in silos. Obviously, some of the decisions take a while in terms of building a new school—it takes a while to go through consultation, et cetera. But certainly, for any new decisions that we are making, we want to ensure that there's that joined-up approach. Through the facilities review that I've already kick-started, I want to understand what are the barriers currently in place. One is understanding where are we lacking infrastructure; the second is understanding what infrastructure is there that isn't being utilised and how can we improve that.
I would ask any Member here that is aware of a certain school where there are difficulties to please make me aware. I want to know about those examples. I can promise you that governing bodies have been in touch with me as well, including the Football Association of Wales and so on, because more could be done in our communities if those facilities were open all of the time. I don't want to be here answering questions in four years either, I give you that assurance. I don't want to be here in a year's time answering those questions. But in terms of that timetable, there is so much to try and solve in this portfolio and to try and get right, and I am determined to get to grips with what's needed.
Thank you, Mike, for those questions. I'm glad to hear you're an advocate for team sports. I have noticed your ties over the years, where you support different clubs and so on and make that known, which is great to see.
I think the key thing in terms of this is ensuring that there are opportunities and, as I mentioned in my response to James Evans, looking at facilities in terms of all-year-round. I went to Smash Padel and saw the junior European padel championships recently that were in Llandaff fields. They have canopies there, which means that people can play all year round. They are expensive, but one of the things we need to look at is what are the opportunities to ensure that there is all-year-round access. I can't control the weather, unfortunately. We'll do everything as a Government we can in terms of tackling climate change. But also, I know that lots of sports are looking to change the seasons and so on.
Another key factor that we're looking at is the fact that a lot of sporting facilities are close to rivers, which are impacted by flooding, which has a real impact on the ability of those clubs to survive and participate. Because we know as well, especially with children, if they don't go every week, they get out of the habit, and then it's easy to not return once the pitches are fit for purpose. That continuity is important. That's why the facilities review is really crucial in all of this, to really understand what facilities are there, but also which ones are at risk and we need to think differently about.
Thank you for the question. Unfortunately, previous Ministers hadn't done that work, so I've had to begin that work from scratch and I can't give you that exact figure. But what I will commit to is that once I have all of that information available in terms of the facilities across Wales, I will be sharing that so that there's openness and transparency, and that will help inform future funding and priorities there. Diolch.
I would like to remind the Member that this was a supplementary budget. Obviously, the first full budget of a Plaid Cymru Government will be later this year. I look forward to the scrutiny from the Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee on that, which I'm pleased to see the Member has been elected to serve on.
I am confident that I have the full backing of my Cabinet colleagues in the vision that I outlined last week, with that determination to work across the Government and across portfolios to deliver on the power of the arts, culture, heritage and sport. We have heard, for years now, previous Governments talk about the need to shift towards prevention and the importance of sport and the arts, but that has followed deep cuts in these sectors. By taking that state-of-play approach, by being strategic and being very clear that this strategy needs to be developed at pace but be meaningful—because we've had strategies in the past that have led to no changes—we are taking the right approach, and I am confident that we will see progress.
I have been honest throughout the past year and since becoming a Member that I need to understand the scale of the investment needed to be able to plan properly. The fact that we don’t have those figures is a real problem for me to make that pitch to the Cabinet Minister for Finance, because I need to have that clear understanding. What I've seen happen too often in this portfolio has been a short-term approach for some headlines. That's not sustainable; it doesn't lead to change. My commitment is to do that work properly as quickly as possible so that we can make informed decisions as a Government, but also honour the commitments that we've made, because we believe in the power of culture, arts, heritage and sport and we're determined to make it work.
Thank you for that question. You have a Minister here who is willing, unlike previous Ministers, to acknowledge that there is a crisis in these sectors and who is determined to get to grips with those issues. We've been very clear that we need to understand what the need is from our arts and cultural organisations, to understand how we get them to the point that they are sustainable, what kind of model will work. I've discussed already with the Arts Council of Wales how we can work in partnership to review whether the framework agreements, the remit letters and so on are delivering as they should. The impact for people in Wales is at the heart of everything that we want to do. It's ensuring that people have access to high-quality arts, culture and heritage organisations. The trajectory we've been on for far too long has been disgraceful. It has led to a situation of crisis. We're determined to have a long-term plan, a long-term view, being mindful of the constraints within the budget, but also our determination to ensure no more in terms of the trajectory that we've been on, and that has been a downward spiral.
Ledled Cymru, mae £34 miliwn wedi cael ei fuddsoddi mewn chwaraeon drwy Chwaraeon Cymru, ond, fel yr amlinellais yn fy natganiad blaenoriaethau yr wythnos diwethaf, mae angen gwneud mwy o waith i ddeall lefel y buddsoddiad sydd ei hangen i fuddsoddi mewn chwaraeon ar lawr gwlad ym mhob cornel o Gymru. Mae gwaith eisoes wedi dechrau ar gomisiynu archwiliad o gyfleusterau chwaraeon cymunedol a rhanbarthol ac ymgysylltu â phartneriaid allweddol, gan gynnwys cyrff llywodraethu cenedlaethol, i lywio buddsoddiad cyfalaf wedi'i dargedu dros dymor y Llywodraeth. Mae hyn oherwydd ein bod ni wedi ymrwymo i wneud chwaraeon yn hygyrch i bawb.
Official English translation
Across Wales, £34 million is being invested in sport through Sport Wales, but, as I outlined in my priorities statement last week, more work needs to be done to understand the level of investment that is required to invest in grass-roots sports in all corners of Wales. Work has already begun on commissioning an audit of community and regional sports facilities and engaging with key partners, including national governing bodies, to steer targeted capital investment over this term of Government. This is because we are committed to making sport accessible to everyone.
Diolch yn fawr iawn i'r Aelod am y cyfraniad hwnnw. Dwi mor falch ein bod ni'n gweld consensws ar draws y Senedd hon am bwysigrwydd hyn. Mae yna nifer o gwestiynau ynglŷn â chwaraeon llawr gwlad wedi dod drwy'r sesiwn hon, a dwi wedi fy nghalonogi bod yna gymaint o gefnogaeth i'r weledigaeth y gwnes i ei hamlinellu wythnos diwethaf a lle dŷn ni angen cyrraedd fel Llywodraeth. Mae o yn golygu cydweithio. Mae'r ffaith fy mod i ddim angen eich perswadio chi i gyd o ran gwerth y gwaith hwn yn dweud cyfrolau. Dŷn ni'n gwybod ei fod o'n bwysig, dŷn ni'n gwybod ei fod o o fudd i bobl, ond eto, dwi ddim yn meddwl bod hynna wedi cael ei gydnabod yn ddigonol yn y gorffennol.
Mae yna brosiectau anhygoel yn digwydd ledled Cymru gan glybiau ar lawr gwlad. Maen nhw nid yn unig yn trawsnewid bywydau, yn gwneud pobl yn iachach, maen nhw'n achub bywydau. Ond eto, maen nhw'n gorfod trio flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn am grant ar ôl grant, ddim yn sicr os ydyn nhw'n gallu parhau. Dwi angen deall sut dŷn ni'n mynd i gyrraedd sefyllfa lle mae hyn yn normal, ble bynnag ydych chi'n byw yng Nghymru, bod gennych chi fynediad, a'n bod ni yn gwerthfawrogi clybiau ar lawr gwlad. Felly, yr holl waith dwi'n trio ei wneud ar y funud ydy sicrhau bod yna ddyfodol i glybiau llawr gwlad, a'n bod ni hefyd yn sicrhau bod eu potensial nhw yn cael ei wireddu.
Dwi yn realistig fy mod i ddim yn mynd i allu datrys hyn yn syth bìn chwaith, ond mae sut dŷn ni'n amddiffyn yr hyn sydd gennym ni hefyd yn rhywbeth dwi'n angerddol amdano fo. Os oes gennych chi esiamplau o glybiau ac ati, dwi wastad yn hapus i glywed amdanyn nhw gan Aelodau a gweld beth ydy'r math o esiamplau y gallen ni fod yn eu rhoi o fewn y strategaeth hon. Diolch.
Official English translation
I thank the Member for that contribution. I'm so pleased that we are seeing a consensus across the Senedd about the importance of this. There have been a number of grass-roots sports questions that have come through for this session, and I feel heartened to see so much support for the vision that I outlined last week and where we need to reach as a Government. It does mean collaboration. The fact that I don't have to persuade you all in terms of the value of this work speaks volumes. We know that it's important, we know that it is beneficial for people, yet I don't think that that has been recognised sufficiently in the past.
There are incredible projects happening all across Wales by clubs at a grass-roots level. They don't only transform the lives of people, making people healthier; they save their lives. Yet, they have to try year after year for grant after grant, and they're not sure whether they can carry on. I have to understand how we're going to reach a situation where this is normal, wherever you live in Wales, that you do have access, that we do appreciate these grass-roots clubs. So, all the work I'm trying to do at the moment is ensuring that there is a future for grass-roots clubs, and that we also ensure that their potential is realised.
I am realistic that I'm not going to be able to solve this straight away either, but how we protect what we have is also something that I feel passionate about. If you have any examples of clubs and so on, I am always happy to hear about those from Members and to see the kinds of examples that we can be putting into this strategy. Thank you.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn. Mae gwaith eisoes ar y gweill i weithio ar draws y Llywodraeth i ddatgloi potensial chwaraeon, diwylliant a'r celfyddydau o ran iechyd ataliol. Fel yn fy ymateb i'r Aelod diwethaf, mae'r dystiolaeth yn glir. Mae yna waith arloesol yn y meysydd hyn yn barod yn achub bywydau, ac mae angen inni sicrhau mynediad a chyfle cyfartal i bawb.
Official English translation
I thank the Member for that question. Work has already begun across Government to unlock the potential of sport, culture and the arts in terms of preventative health. As I said in my response to the previous question, the evidence is clear. Groundbreaking work is already saving lives in these areas, and we need to ensure equality of access and opportunity for everyone.
Thank you to the Member for that supplementary. Certainly, I welcome all examples, because one of the great things that I'm able to do in this role is actually ensure that we see what best practice is happening and that we don't try and reinvent the wheel where there are brilliant projects happening that could be at risk, then, of losing funding in the future because of a change or shift in policy.
I was lucky enough to attend the Welsh Sports Association awards recently, which celebrated a lot of grass-roots and charity work in this area, and it was clear in terms of the impact. There was one particular project that won, the Guardian Ballers with Basketball Wales, which is not really about basketball but about mental health in young people. Those kinds of projects are really impactful, having a huge impact, with 88 per cent of participants reporting an improvement in mental health, and 92 per cent saying that they began to understand themselves better just through those sessions. So, the challenge, I think, is that this is happening. How do we ensure that wherever you are in Wales you have this kind of opportunity?
Thank you for that question. I am glad to see such unity here in terms of the vision that we have shared and the need to look at all budgets collectively to have the best impact. Because, actually, in a number of health boards, arts are offered within the medical setting as treatment. I think there's inconsistency sometimes in terms of where that funding comes from, so some may come from the Arts Council of Wales through the arts and health programmes, some is funded through the health boards themselves. We need to understand, really, where that leads to inequity, because, also, there are brilliant examples of social prescribing happening in Wales, but it's also not consistent. What we would like to see is how do we shift that, and that's the work we're undertaking now. It's not about taking away from one budget, it's actually using all budgets impactfully and ensuring that people get the best possible treatment for them. And if that is an arts or sports intervention or something through social prescribing rather than traditional treatment, then surely that's what should be happening if that's the best course of treatment or support for them to have the best outcome.
What we're determined to do is not pit budgets against each other, but look cross-Government at how do we ensure that every pound we spend is the most impactful, and how we integrate the power of arts and sports into health. The evidence is all there—the evidence is there; I don't need to tell you the evidence. But how do we ensure that everybody has that opportunity? That's the challenge that we're addressing right now.
Mae sicrhau mynediad teg i bawb yn ganolog i'n gweledigaeth a'n huchelgais ar gyfer y celfyddydau yng Nghymru. Mae'n amlwg ar y funud fod rhai pobl yn cael eu heithrio rhag gallu cymryd rhan yn a mwynhau'r celfyddydau oherwydd pwy ydyn nhw neu ble maen nhw'n byw. Mae'n rhaid i hyn newid, ac mi fyddaf i'n gweithio gyda fy nghyd-Aelodau ar draws y Cabinet i fynd i'r afael â'r rhwystrau sydd ar waith ar hyn o bryd.
Official English translation
Ensuring equal access for all is central to our vision and ambition for the arts in Wales. It's clear at the moment that some people are excluded from being able to participate in and enjoy the arts because of who they are or where they live. This must change, and I will work with my fellow Members across the Cabinet to address the barriers that are currently in place.
Diolch i'r Aelod am godi'r pwnc eithriadol bwysig hwnnw a thynnu sylw at yr ystadegau hynny hefyd a'r gostyngiad sydd wedi bod. Mi oeddwn i'n gyfan gwbl glir yn fy natganiad blaenoriaethau yr wythnos diwethaf mai yn ganolog i hyn ydy sicrhau cydraddoldeb o ran mynediad, cydraddoldeb o ran cyfranogiad.
Mae gan bob plentyn yr hawl i fod yn ymwneud efo diwylliant a'r celfyddydau. Mae ganddyn nhw hawl i ymwneud ag ymgysylltu â chwaraeon, ond mae yna rwystrau ar y funud, a'r sialens i ni ydy sut ydyn ni'n gweithio'n draws-lywodraethol, ar draws y Cabinet i fod yn gwireddu'r weledigaeth honno a'r hawl sylfaenol sydd gan bob plentyn.
Dwi'n ymwybodol iawn o ran tripiau ysgol. Dŷn ni'n gwybod, o fy ngwaith i pan oeddwn yn yr wrthblaid yn rhan o waith y pwyllgor plant a phobl ifanc, fod yna ddisgyblion yn peidio â mynd i'r ysgol ar ddiwrnod lle mae yna drip ar adegau rŵan oherwydd y gost, a dydy hynny ddim yn dderbyniol. Mae'n rhaid inni alluogi pob plentyn i gael yr hawl hwnnw.
Mae gennym ni ymrwymiad o ran mynediad am ddim i'n hamgueddfeydd cenedlaethol. Mae hynny'n parhau efo'r Llywodraeth hon, ond dŷn ni eisiau mynd ymhellach. Mae yna rai cynlluniau lle mae yna gyfraniad yn gallu mynd at gost bws, er enghraifft. Dwi eisiau edrych ar yr ystod o bethau sydd gennym ni, i wirioneddol ddeall y rhwystrau hynny, ond hefyd i weithio efo'r Gweinidog Cabinet dros Addysg a'r Gymraeg a'r Dirprwy Brif Weinidog—y ddwy yn digwydd bod yma hefyd—sydd wrth gwrs yn edrych o ran tlodi plant, i sicrhau bod hyn yn elfen o'r gwaith hwnnw, a sut dŷn ni'n sicrhau bod yr un plentyn yng Nghymru yn cael ei gau allan o'i dreftadaeth, ei ddiwylliant, ei gelfyddydau, ei iaith, na'i chwaraeon.
Official English translation
I thank the Member for raising that important topic and also for highlighting those statistics as well and that decrease that we have observed. I was completely clear in my priority statement last week that central to all of this is ensuring equality in terms of access, equality in terms of participation.
Every child has the right to engage with culture and the arts. They have a right to engage with sport, but there are barriers in place at the moment, and the challenge for us is how we work across Government, across the Cabinet, to realise the vision and that fundamental right that every child has.
I am very aware of the issue with school trips. I know from my work when I was in opposition, as part of the work on the children and young people's committee, that there are pupils who don't go to school when there's a school trip now because of the cost, and that isn't acceptable. We have to enable every child to make the most of that right.
We have a commitment in terms of free access to our national museums, and that is continuing with this Government, but we want to go even further. There are some schemes where a contribution can be given to the cost of a bus, for example. I want to look at the whole range of things that we have, to truly understand those barriers, but also to work with the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language and the Deputy First Minister—both happen to be here today as well—who of course are looking into child poverty, to ensure that this is an element of that piece of work too, and how we ensure that no child in Wales is deprived of their heritage, their culture, their arts, their language and their sports.
Thank you. I think you raise a really important point, because we know that, with local authority budgets, because culture isn't one of those services that you have to deliver, it's often one of the things that have been first to go. Also, we reflect this week that it was 10 years since Brexit, and some of that shared prosperity funding and so on has shown that it's actually not the right investment, that we haven't had those long-term gains and it's led to a system where too many of our cultural organisations or cultural activities have been dependent on a fund that had no certainty in terms of its future. So, certainly, as you will have heard me say earlier today, looking at that sustainability is really important, because if you can't build on an activity year on year and grow audiences, that's a challenge as well. And I'm very keen—. I haven't had discussions yet with the Welsh Local Government Association and local authorities around culture and sport in particular, but given the pressures that they have been under in recent years, that's a conversation I'm keen to have sooner rather than later so that that feeds in to the strategy work and facilities review as well.
Grant craidd Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru ar gyfer 2026-27 yw £33.6 miliwn o refeniw a £900,000 o gyfalaf. Yn ogystal, rydym wedi darparu £7.5 miliwn o gyllid cyfalaf i gefnogi rhaglen buddsoddi cyfalaf strategol sector y celfyddydau. Mae gwaith eisoes wedi dechrau ar adolygiad sy'n edrych ar gyfleoedd ar gyfer buddsoddi mewn diwylliant, y celfyddydau a chwaraeon i lywio cynnydd cynyddol mewn gwariant celfyddydau, diwylliant a chwaraeon, sy'n gysylltiedig â newid ehangach i weithgarwch iechyd a lles ataliol ar draws y Llywodraeth.
Official English translation
The core grant for the Arts Council of Wales for 2026-27 is £33.6 million in revenue and £900,000 in capital. In addition, we have provided £7.5 million of capital funding to support the arts sector strategic capital investment programme. Work has already begun on a review that looks at opportunities for investment in culture, arts and sport to inform growing increases in spending on the arts, culture and sport, which is linked to a wider shift towards preventative health and well-being activity across the Government.
Dwi'n meddwl ei bod hi'n bwysig fy mod i'n glir bod gan y cyngor celfyddydau ddim byd i'w wneud efo'r cwestiwn atodol fuodd wedyn. Dydyn nhw ddim yn gyfrifol am ariannu'r cyngor llyfrau, dydyn nhw ddim yn rhan o'r gwaith grant o ran Nation.Cymru nac unrhyw gorff arall. Felly, dwi'n meddwl ei bod hi'n bwysig i bobl ddeall hynny. Dwi hefyd yn meddwl ei bod yn bwysig inni gydnabod y rôl hyd braich allweddol hynny a llywodraethiant. Dwi ddim yn derbyn rhai o'r sylwadau a wnaed gan yr Aelod o ran y cyngor celfyddydau, oherwydd mae yna lywodraethiant yna. Os oes yna unrhyw esiamplau lle rydych chi'n credu bod y llywodraethiant wedi bod yn ddiffygiol, yna mae yna brosesau o ran edrych ar hynny.
Yn glir, o ran bod yna nifer o gwestiynau wedi eu gofyn ynglŷn â buddsoddiad y Llywodraeth hon yn y cyfryngau yng Nghymru, gaf i mi fod yn glir—yr elfen hyd braich rydym ni'n ei gefnogi, ac annibynrwydd yr holl ystod o ddarlledu, o'r cyfryngau ac ati. Mae'n allweddol bwysig. Mae nifer o adroddiadau wedi dangos bod yna ddiffyg democrataidd yng Nghymru oherwydd does gennym ni ddim cyfryngau cryf. Dydw i ddim yn Aelod etholedig sy'n mynd i drio ymyrryd yn rhyddid y wasg. Mae yna brosesau eraill lle mae yna god o ran ethics gan newyddiadurwyr ac ati i'w dilyn. Fyddaf i ddim yn dweud wrth bobl beth i'w gyhoeddi. Mae gennym ni'r hawl yma, yng Nghymru, i gael cyfryngau cryf, cyfryngau sydd yn ein dal ni i gyfrif fel Llywodraeth. Mae hwnnw'n rhan o'n ddemocratiaeth ni ac, yn sicr, mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn barod iawn i gael ei dwyn i gyfrif gan wasg gryf yma yng Nghymru.
Official English translation
I think it's important that I'm clear that the arts council has nothing to do with the supplementary question asked. They're not responsible for funding the books council, they're not involved in the grant work in relation to Nation.Cymru or any other such body. So, I think it's important that people understand that. I also think it's important that we acknowledge the crucial arm's-length role and the governance issues. I don't accept some of the comments made by the Member in terms of the arts council, because there is governance in place. If there are any examples where you believe that the governance has been deficient, then there are processes in place in order to look at that.
Now, there have been a number of questions asked as to the Government’s investment in the media in Wales, and let me be clear—it's the arm’s-length element that we support, and the independence of the whole range of broadcasting, press and media. It's crucially important. A number of reports have shown that there is a democratic deficit in Wales because we don't have a strong media. I am not an elected Member that will try to interfere in press freedom. There are other processes whereby there is an ethics code for journalists and so on to follow. I won't be telling people what to publish. We have the right, in Wales, to have a strong press and media that hold us, as a Government, to account. That is part of our democracy and, certainly, this Government is very willing to be held to account by a strong press here in Wales.
Mae buddsoddi yn, a chefnogi, chwaraeon ar lawr gwlad yn hanfodol, a bydd yn chwarae rhan ganolog yn ffocws y Llywodraeth hon ar chwaraeon fel triniaeth feddygol a'r agenda ataliol. Fel dwi wedi amlinellu nifer o weithiau heddiw, yn fy ymateb i Tom Montgomery ac eraill, bydd yr adolygiad o gyfleusterau chwaraeon yn helpu i lywio buddsoddiad yn y dyfodol gan ein bod ni eisiau i bawb allu cymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon, beth bynnag fo'u cefndir a ble bynnag maen nhw'n byw yng Nghymru.
Official English translation
Investing in, and supporting, grass-roots sport is essential and will play a central role in this Government's focus on sport as medical treatment and the preventative agenda. As I've outlined a number of times today, in response to Tom Montgomery and others, the review of sports facilities will help inform future investment, because we want everyone to be able to take part in sport, whatever their background and wherever they live in Wales.
Diolch am y cwestiwn hwnnw. Mi fydd yr Aelod yn ymwybodol bod Undeb Rygbi Cymru yn gorff annibynnol. Mae yna drafodaethau, wastad, rhwng y Llywodraeth ac Undeb Rygbi Cymru a chyrff llywodraethu eraill oherwydd pwysigrwydd y cydweithio hwnnw. Yn amlwg, mae yna deimladau cryfion iawn o ran rygbi. Dwi'n siŵr y byddwch chi'n gwerthfawrogi dydw i ddim yn rhan o'r penderfyniadau hynny, ond yr hyn oedd yn glir o ran y trafodaethau ges i pan oeddwn i'n llefarydd o ran y blaid—dydw i ddim wedi cael y sgwrs yma ers dod yn Weinidog, ond pan oeddwn i'n llefarydd ar ran y blaid—ydy ein bod ni fel plaid yn disgwyl bod yr ymgysylltu yna gyda'r gymuned, gyda'r rheini sydd, fel chithau, yn angerddol o ran y clybiau yma, a bod yna werthfawrogiad hefyd o'u pwysigrwydd nhw o ran eu hardaloedd nhw, o ran ein treftadaeth ni hefyd, a'u bod nhw'n gymaint yn fwy na jest clybiau sy'n chwarae rygbi. Mae lliw y crys rydych chi'n ei wisgo yn cael effaith, onid ydy, ac mae o'n rhan o dîm a chymuned. Felly, yn sicr, fyddaf i ddim yn rhan o unrhyw benderfyniad, ond disgwyliadau'r Llywodraeth hon, wastad, ydy bod pob corff yn meddwl am oblygiadau penderfyniadau o ran dyfodol unrhyw glwb, a'n bod ni hefyd yn edrych, o ran y cydweithio hwnnw, i sicrhau ein bod ni'n gallu, fel Llywodraeth, cydweithio a sicrhau bod yna gyfleoedd ar lawr gwlad o ran datblygiad rygbi hefyd.
Byddwch chi hefyd yn ymwybodol o'r trafferthion fuodd efo Undeb Rygbi Cymru yn y gorffennol, buodd yn wybyddus iawn ar lawr y Senedd hon, o ran merched a rygbi, ac, yn sicr, rydym ni eisiau sicrhau bod pob un o'n chwaraeon ni yng Nghymru yn gyfan gwbl gynhwysol hefyd.
Official English translation
Thank you for that question. The Member will be aware that the Welsh Rugby Union is an independent body. There are always discussions between the Government and the Welsh Rugby Union and other governing bodies because of the importance of that collaboration. Clearly, there are very strong feelings in terms of rugby. I'm sure you will appreciate that I am not part of those decisions, but what was clear in terms of the discussions that I had when I was a spokesperson for the party—I haven't had this discussion since becoming the Cabinet Minister, but when I was the party spokesperson—is that we as a party expect that engagement with the community, with those who, like you, feel passionate about these clubs, and that there is an appreciation as well of their importance in terms of their regions, in terms of our heritage as well, and that they are more than just clubs that play rugby. The colour shirt you wear does have an impact, doesn't it, and it's being part of a team and a community. So, certainly, I won't be part of any decision, but this Government's expectation is always that every body thinks about the implications of decisions made in terms of the future of any club, and that we also look, in terms of that collaboration, to ensure that we, as a Government, can collaborate and work together and ensure that there are opportunities at a grass-roots level in terms of rugby development as well.
You will also be aware of the troubles that we've had with the Welsh Rugby Union in the past, which were very well known on the floor of this Senedd, in terms of women and rugby, and, certainly, we want to ensure that all of our sports here in Wales are completely inclusive as well.
I want to make Members aware of a major incident in Kidwelly following a report of a collision involving a bus on the A484 near the Kidwelly roundabout. Emergency services are on the scene and members of the public are asked to stay away from the area until further notice. The Deputy Minister for Transport will update Senedd Members accordingly once further information is available.
Os caf i symud at fusnes Senedd yr wythnos hon, mae datganiad llafar wedi ei ychwanegu at agenda heddiw ar gyflawni ein blaenoriaethau, lleihau amseroedd aros a chryfhau gofal sylfaenol. Mae busnes drafft y tair wythnos nesaf wedi ei nodi yn y datganiad busnes, sydd ar gael i'r Aelodau yn electronig.
Official English translation
If I may move to this week's Senedd business, an oral statement has been added to today's agenda on delivering our priorities, reducing waiting times and strengthening primary care. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement, which is available to Members electronically.
Gaf fi ddiolch i'r Aelod am godi'r mater hynod o bwysig yna, gan barhau i ymgyrchu ar fater sydd o bwys i nifer? Dwi'n siŵr ein bod ni i gyd wedi ein heffeithio'n arw pan welwn ni'r penawdau pan mae pethau difrifol yn mynd o'u lle a phobl yn colli eu bywydau yn ddiangen o ran hyn. Mi oedd gan Blaid Cymru ymrwymiad cryf yn ei maniffesto o ran hyrwyddo perchnogaeth a bridio anifeiliaid anwes cyfrifol, gan archwilio cosbau cryfach am berchnogaeth anghyfrifol, hysbysiadau rheoli cŵn, pwerau gorfodi sy'n seiliedig ar dystiolaeth a chynllun cofrestru neu drwyddedu cŵn. Mi wnaf i ofyn i'r Gweinidog Cabinet perthnasol am ddiweddariad i'r Senedd wrth i'r gwaith hwnnw fynd rhagddo.
Official English translation
Can I thank the Member for raising that very important issue and continuing to campaign on an issue that is important to many people? I'm sure that we've all been greatly affected when we see headlines where things go wrong and people lose their lives needlessly because of this. Plaid Cymru had a strong commitment in its manifesto in terms of promoting responsible pet ownership and breeding, examining stronger penalties for irresponsible ownership, dog control orders, evidence-based enforcement powers and a dog registration or licensing scheme. I will ask the relevant Cabinet Minister for an update to the Senedd as that work proceeds.
Diolch i'r Aelod am godi'r mater hwnnw. Yn amlwg, mi ydych chi mewn cyfathrebiad efo'r Gweinidog Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal, a byddwn i'n gofyn eich bod chi'n parhau efo'r ddeialog honno. Yn amlwg, mae gennych chi hawl i ymateb hefyd i gwestiwn ac ymateb ysgrifenedig. Mae'r Gweinidog hefyd yn gwneud datganiad yn hwyrach heddiw, sydd yn benodol o ran lleihau amseroedd aros, ac efallai y byddwch yn dymuno codi cwestiwn o'r fath iddo fo bryd hynny.
Official English translation
I thank the Member for raising that issue. Clearly, you are in communication with the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, and I would ask you to continue with that dialogue. Clearly, you have a right to a response to a question and a written response. The Minister will also be making a statement later today that specifically covers reducing waiting times, and perhaps you would like to raise such a question at that point.
Diolch i'r Aelod am godi'r mater hwnnw. Mi fydd o'n wybyddus i nifer a oedd yma yn y chweched Senedd fod hwn yn bwnc y gwnes i ymgyrchu yn sylweddol arno fo, ond hefyd nifer o Aelodau yn drawsbleidiol, felly, oherwydd y teimlad cryf yna sydd o fewn ein cymunedau ni a'r heriau gwirioneddol, fel yr amlinellwyd gan y Prif Weinidog yn gynharach, o ran yr heriau sydd gan awdurdodau lleol efo'r cyllidebau sydd ganddyn nhw a'r toriadau sydd wedi bod i ddiwallu'r anghenion hynny.
Yn sicr, mi oedd gennym ni ymrwymiad yn ein maniffesto i fod yn edrych ar y mater hwn. Rwy'n gwybod bod y Dirprwy Weinidog dros Drafnidiaeth eisoes wedi bod mewn cyswllt efo nifer o'r grwpiau ymgyrchu hynny er mwyn sicrhau bod y ddeialog honno yn parhau. Yn sicr, yr hyn y mae angen ei weld ydy'r amserlen honno, a phan fydd honno ar gael mi fyddwn ni yn ei rhannu hi efo'r Senedd yn ehangach. Dwi'n gwybod, o glywed yr holl gyfraniadau yn gynharach heddiw, y teimlad cryf trawsbleidiol sydd o ran hyn, a'r angen i ni gydweithio i geisio gweld beth ydy'r datrysiadau posib.
Official English translation
I thank the Member for raising this issue. Many of those who were in the sixth Senedd will know that this is a subject I campaigned on, and indeed many Members on a cross-party basis, because of that strong feeling within our communities and the genuine challenges, as outlined by the First Minister earlier, in terms of the challenges that local authorities face with the budgets they have and the cuts that there have been in terms of meeting those needs.
Certainly, we had a commitment in our manifesto to look at this issue. I know that the Deputy Minister for Transport has already been in contact with a number of the campaign groups in order to ensure that that dialogue continues. Certainly, what needs to be seen is that timetable, and when that is available we will be sharing it with the Senedd more broadly. I know, from hearing all of the contributions made earlier today, the strength of feeling that exists on a cross-party basis, and the need for us to collaborate to see what are the possible solutions.
Mi fyddaf i yn nodi bod yr Aelod a gododd y mater yn ymwybodol o'r cod gweinidogol, ac mae'r Llywodraeth hon wedi sicrhau, ac yn gweithredu bob amser i sicrhau, fod Aelodau'n ymwybodol o bob cyhoeddiad gan y Llywodraeth yn unol â'r cod hwnnw. Yn sicr, o ran y craffu, dwi'n meddwl bod y ffaith eich bod chi wedi gweld pob Gweinidog yn gwneud datganiadau blaenoriaethau yn rhoi'r cyfle i graffu, a bod nifer o'r cyhoeddiadau a oedd wedi eu gwneud yn bethau sydd wedi cael eu crybwyll, ac y byddai'n bosib craffu bryd hynny. Mi fyddwn ni bob amser yn sicrhau ein bod ni yn gweithredu yn unol â'r cod gweinidogol.
Official English translation
I will note that the Member who raised the matter is aware of the ministerial code, and this Government has ensured, and always ensures, that Members are aware of all announcements by the Government in accordance with that code. Certainly, in terms of scrutiny, I think the fact that you have seen all Ministers making statements on priorities provides an opportunity to scrutinise, and a number of the announcements made are things that were mentioned, and it would be possible to scrutinise them at that time. We would always ensure that we do operate in accordance with the ministerial code.
Wel, a gaf i ddiolch i'r Aelod am godi'r mater eithriadol o bwysig hwn, a hefyd am fod yn agored yn rhannu profiad personol? Mae hwn, yn amlwg, yn fater y bydd pob un ohonom ni, dwi'n siŵr, wedi dod ar ei draws mewn gwaith achos, a bod yna deimladau cryf o fewn ein cymunedau ni o ran sut ydym ni'n sicrhau bod sgrinio yn digwydd, bod cymaint o bethau yn digwydd, er mwyn dal unrhyw ganser cyn gynted ag y mae'n bosib. O ran cael diweddariad penodol, mi wnaf i godi hyn gyda'r Gweinidog Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal, a gofyn am ddiweddariad i'w roi i chi ar y materion hyn.
Official English translation
Well, may I thank the Member for raising such an important issue, and for being open in sharing his own personal experience too? This is clearly an issue that each and every one of us will have come across in casework, and that there are strong feelings within our communities in terms of how we do ensure that screening happens, that as much is done as possible in order to catch any cancer at the earliest possible stage. In terms of a specific update, I'll raise this with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care, and ask for an update on those issues.
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Aelod am godi'r mater hwnnw? Dwi ddim yn gwybod os oedd yr Aelod yma yn bresennol pan wnaeth y Gweinidog Cabinet dros Addysg a'r Gymraeg ei datganiad ar flaenoriaethau yr wythnos diwethaf, lle roedd yna ymrwymiadau o ran y gwaith pendant y bydd y Llywodraeth hon yn ei wneud o ran anghenion dysgu ychwanegol. Roedd y sylwadau hynny wedi'u hategu gan y Prif Weinidog hefyd yn gynharach heddiw ac yn yr wythnosau diwethaf. Yr ymrwymiad clir ydy bod y Llywodraeth hon wedi ymrwymo i fynd i'r afael â'r heriau a cheisio cael datrysiadau tymor hir i'r heriau gwirioneddol hynny y byddwn ni i gyd yn ymwybodol ohonyn nhw, un ai drwy brofiad personol neu drwy ein gwaith achos. Yn sicr, mi roedd hwn yn fater a godwyd gyda minnau fel Aelod o'r Senedd yn y tymor diwethaf, ac mae'n parhau i'w wneud. Mae'r ymrwymiad yna eisoes wedi ei wneud gan y Gweinidog Cabinet dros Addysg a'r Gymraeg.
Official English translation
Could I thank the Member for raising this issue? I don't know whether the Member was present when the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language made her priorities statement last week, where there were commitments made in terms of the work that this Government will do in terms of ALN. Those comments have been echoed by the First Minister again today and over the recent weeks. And the clear commitment is that this Government has committed to tackle those challenges and wants to find long-term solutions to those challenges that we will all be aware of, either through personal experience or through our casework. Certainly, this was an issue that was raised with me as a Member of the Senedd in the last term, and that continues to be the case, and that commitment has already been made by the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language.
We are certainly not grateful for not having what Wales deserves. Let's be very clear on that. On that, I would hope that we would be united as a Senedd, because Wales has been underfunded. That is common knowledge, it's acknowledged, and yet we are treated with contempt. Let me be very clear as well that when the Deputy Minister for Transport made his statement, that was following a situation that we saw in Anglesey in relation to the closure of the bridge at the time. We were asked to bring forward a statement, and that was the statement. We were also asked to consider the M4 relief road. There are many further things in terms of rail and bus networks that we are also committed to.
Securing fairer rail funding, along with a pathway to full devolution, is a key priority for this Welsh Government. The Prif Weinidog has raised rail funding with the Prime Minister and written to the Secretary of State for Transport on the matter. The Deputy Minister for Transport is due to meet the UK rail Minister in the coming months to progress those discussions. Therefore, please feel reassured that this is important to us. We welcome any support across parties for this, but certainly we want to see progress and we need to see progress.
I refer the Member to previous comments made, that the commitment of the Welsh Government is clear in terms of following the legal advice, and I would refer her to previous statements.