WelshDeputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
Dangosodd adolygiad diweddar fod awdurdodau lleol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr a Bro Morgannwg yn gwneud cynnydd da o ran rhoi egwyddorion siarter budd-daliadau Cymru ar waith wrth ddarparu budd-daliadau. Maen nhw'n symleiddio'r prosesau gweinyddu i'w gwneud yn haws i bobl fanteisio ar ostyngiadau'r dreth gyngor, prydau ysgol am ddim a'r grant hanfodion ysgol.
Official English translation
A recent review showed that Bridgend and the Vale of Glamorgan local authorities are making good progress in embedding the Welsh benefits charter's principles into the delivery of benefits. They are streamlining the administration processes to make it easier for people to benefit from council tax reduction, free school meals and the school essentials grant.
This is really a key priority for this Government, because ensuring that people have got enough money in their pockets—money that they are eligible for because of low income or different circumstances—is the ultimate preventative measure, isn't it, and prevention is at the heart of this Government's work. So, we recognise the significant potential of this work of making it easier for people to be able to claim what's theirs, to be aware of what they can claim, and for that money to reach their pockets as quickly and as easily as possible. It's really such a key part of what we're trying to do as a part of this preventative agenda. We know, of course, that additional income won't prevent every household from falling into crisis, but it will prevent some, and that's a difference that's really worth making.
Nid da lle gellir gwell. Fe wnes i ddweud yn rhan gyntaf fy ateb fod cynnydd da yn cael ei wneud. Fe wnaethom ni wneud adolygiad o'r gwaith a'r cynnydd ar y siarter dros yr haf, ac roedd y cynnydd yn galonogol ledled Cymru—pob awdurdod lleol, gan gynnwys y ddau sydd yn eich etholaeth chi, wedi cymryd camau i symleiddio'r ffordd y bydd budd-daliadau Cymru yn cael eu gweinyddu, gan roi mwy o bwyslais ar ddarparu cymorth sy'n diwallu anghenion unigolion.
Rŷn ni'n gwybod bod data, rhannu data a chael mynediad at ddata wir yn bwysig i hyn, achos dyna, mewn gwirionedd, sy'n mynd i'w gwneud hi'n haws i fedru dweud wrth bobl a gwybod bod pobl yn gymwys am rywbeth—does dim rhaid iddyn nhw ddweud eu stori fwy nag unwaith. Mae Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr a Bro Morgannwg bellach yn defnyddio data'r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau i nodi pobl sy'n gymwys ar gyfer y gostyngiad yn y dreth gyngor yn awtomatig, felly does dim angen iddyn nhw wneud cais ar wahân. Dwi eisiau gweld hynny. Dyna'r her dwi wedi ei rhoi i'r grŵp sy'n llywio'r gwaith yma, i sicrhau ein bod ni'n gwneud cynnydd. Dwi hefyd yn pwyso ar y DWP i wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n gallu rhannu'r data sydd ei angen, i helpu gwaith y cynghorau i wneud hynny.
Official English translation
There's always room for improvement. I said in my first answer that good progress is being made. We conducted a review of progress on the charter over the summer, and it was encouraging across Wales—every local authority, including the two in your own constituency, have taken steps to simplify the way that Welsh benefits are administered, placing more emphasis on providing support that meets the needs of individuals.
We know that data, data sharing and data access is very important in this area, because that, in reality, is what will make it easier to inform people and to know what they are eligible for so that they don't have to tell their story more than once. Bridgend and the Vale of Glamorgan are now using Department for Work and Pensions data to identify those people who are eligible for that council tax reduction automatically, so they don't have to make a separate application. I want to see that happening and that's the challenge I've given to the steering group on this work, to ensure that we make progress. I'm also urging the DWP to make sure that we can share the necessary data to help the councils in doing that.
Thank you. As I said, we have done a review of this. When I first chaired the steering group, back in July, I asked members to shift their focus towards implementation, to make sure that we are delivering and make sure that those solutions are forthcoming, that they're not theoretic, rather than continue to revisit the challenges. We are going to bring more Welsh benefits within the scope. I think the foundations have been laid. It is definitely, as I said in my answer to Sarah Rees, 'Nid da lle gellir gwell'—we've got a way to go on this. I've made very clear that the commitment at the moment, which was developed in conjunction with stakeholders, including the WLGA, remains something that is not statutory at the moment. But I believe that, if progress in embedding the charter's principle within Welsh benefits delivery is not satisfactory, I have said that I will consider legislative options to strengthen those requirements.
Diolch. Rŷn ni wedi cynnwys ein cefnogaeth i gyfamod y lluoedd arfog fel ymrwymiad yn ein rhaglen lywodraethu. Ymhlith y camau rŷn ni'n eu cymryd ar hyn o bryd mae darparu cyllid ar gyfer swyddogion cyswllt y lluoedd arfog a GIG Cymru i Gyn-filwyr. Rŷn ni hefyd yn paratoi at ehangiad disgwyliedig y cyfamod y flwyddyn nesaf.
Official English translation
Thank you. We've included our support for the armed forces covenant as a commitment in our programme for government. The action we are currently taking includes providing funding for armed forces liaison officers and Veterans' NHS Wales. We are also preparing for the anticipated broadening of the covenant next year.
Obviously, foreign affairs are not devolved, but the first part of your question is really important. I know many Members here have heard testimony from Welsh Guards themselves and their families about the need for closure on that tragic incident that befell them with the Sir Galahad. Those records should absolutely be published. I know that the First Minister has given his commitment to make those representations. If that letter hasn't already gone, then it will, and I am completely in concord with that, that we should absolutely see justice for those families. They deserve to have the closure and the information about what happened with the Sir Galahad.
Diolch yn fawr am godi'r mater pwysig yma o ran iechyd meddwl cyn-filwyr. Rwy'n gwybod bod y Dirprwy Weinidog dros Iechyd Cyhoeddus ac Ataliol wedi ymweld â chanolfan adsefydlu breswyl Brynawel yn ddiweddar i weld y gwaith da sy'n cael ei wneud yno. Roedd hynny, wrth gwrs, yn cynnwys y gwaith y maen nhw'n ei wneud gyda chyn-filwyr. Rwy'n ymwybodol bod y Dirprwy Weinidog dros Ofal Cymdeithasol, Iechyd Meddwl ac Iechyd Menywod yn trefnu ymweliad â chanolfan cyn-filwyr Abertawe ar hyn o bryd. Dwi wastad yn falch hefyd i siarad gyda chyn-filwyr am eu profiadau. Felly, ar ôl i'r Dirprwy Weinidog ymweld, byddwn i'n hapus hefyd i ymgysylltu gyda'r cyn-filwyr yno yn eich etholaeth. Dwi'n siŵr y bydd ei hymweliad hi yn rhoi gwell dealltwriaeth, a dealltwriaeth allweddol, o'r heriau sy'n wynebu cyn-filwyr wrth gael mynediad at gymorth ar gyfer iechyd meddwl. Mae'r ganolfan yna yn Abertawe yn rhan o'r rhwydwaith Valour yng Nghymru, a dwi'n edrych ymlaen at gael cwrdd â nhw yng nghynhadledd cyfamod Cymru ar 19 Tachwedd yn Abertawe.
Felly, mae gyda ni rwydwaith ardderchog o ganolfannau cyn-filwyr ledled Cymru, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at glywed yn uniongyrchol ganddyn nhw yn y gynhadledd genedlaethol honno. Nhw yw'r arbenigwyr ar y rheng flaen ac rŷn ni yn gwrando arnyn nhw. Wrth gwrs, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn darparu £920,000 bob blwyddyn i Veterans' NHS Wales, sy'n gweithio gyda chyn-filwyr sydd ag anhawsterau iechyd meddwl sy'n gysylltiedig â'u gwasanaeth milwrol.
Official English translation
Thank you very much for raising that important issue in terms of veterans' mental health. I know that the Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health has visited the Brynawel residential rehabilitation centre recently to see the good work that's being done there. That included, of course, the work that they do with veterans. And I am aware that the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women's Health is due to visit the Swansea veterans hub, and I'm always pleased to speak to veterans about their experience too. So, once the Deputy Minister has visited, I would be more than happy to engage with the veterans there in your constituency. I'm sure that her visit will provide a better understanding and a key understanding of the challenges facing veterans in accessing mental health support. That centre in Swansea is part of the Valour network in Wales, and I look forward to meeting with them at the Wales covenant conference on 19 November in Swansea.
So, we do have an excellent network of veteran centres across Wales and I do look forward to hearing directly from them at that national conference. They are the experts on the front line and we do listen to them. Of course, the Welsh Government does provide £920,000 per annum to Veterans' NHS Wales, who work with veterans experiencing mental health problems related to their military service.
Are you going to listen? I absolutely reject any attempts by any Member in this Chamber to divide communities by scapegoating, by insinuating and spreading false information, scaremongering. And I'm sure there are many, many—as we saw that evening—many Members in this Chamber who feel exactly the same as this Government. There is a persistent pattern of members of Reform and spokespeople using their position to fuel hate and division. So, I'm here in good faith—[Interruption.]
I'm here in good faith to answer questions of scrutiny on my work. I will do that. We are all elected to do so. It's a huge privilege, but, as I said that day, with that privilege comes a huge responsibility, and I'd remind the Member of that responsibility to be careful about the words that she uses.
I'll tell you what's offensive. You should have seen the messages that many of us, including many of us on this frontbench in the Government, received after that debate. They were horrified and intimidated, and felt unsafe and threatened by the language and tone of the debate that was used by Members on the Reform bench. I had so many messages in so many different forms.
As to the point on social media, of course everybody is entitled to their opinion on the views that we take in this Chamber. I am very available as a Government Minister. I have a correspondence address, an e-mail address that is available to all. There is no need to use social media to get in touch—[Interruption.] I'm sorry?
If she wants to send a message to me, then she can write to me as a Minister.
I will finish my point. I just want to finish the point, because you weren't here, but when we were having—you did used to be a member, of course, of the Tory party—the toxic language from them about immigration, when that first started, and there were Tory Ministers talking about 'swarms'—I think it was Suella Braverman, who was also a Tory then, of course—coming across the channel, a holocaust survivor spoke out. I quoted her in a debate about that in this Chamber. What I was pointing out, and what she pointed out, face to face to those Tory Ministers in a public meeting, was how language can lead places. When we talk about people that are less than, and your fellow Member says that not all cultures are equal, that infers that some people who are of certain cultures are less than others. That's how things started. That's how things start.
Again, I just feel that you need to understand that in order to arrive at a target, you need a strategy. You need to understand what levers the Welsh Government has, what control, what we can change, what we can implement, where we can move our resources. That is a strategy. The money follows the strategy. The policies follow the strategy. The work across Government will follow that strategy. That's what we're currently doing.
We are meeting, as I think I said in the previous answer to you, in that previous question session, to make sure that we can do that work across Government as a sub-group of the Cabinet, and then, obviously, listening to stakeholders, policy experts and anti-poverty campaigners who've been doing this work for such a long time and have a lot to say about the strategy of the last Government.
That is what we are working on. I will be ready to consult on that strategy—because we have accelerated this work—in the new year. It will be ready then. It's a statutory consultation, to be able to hear those views, to make sure that we're on the right track. What I'm absolutely clear about is that we will focus the priorities of this Government on efforts on the key policies that will have the biggest impact to shift that dial on those things that are within our power.
It's a really important point. Obviously, we're in the middle of those budget discussions now, but we are carefully considering the impacts of all the decisions that we are making. It's going to be a very difficult budget, as we've heard the Cabinet Minister for Finance outline. So, we are going to have to take difficult choices, but we are absolutely clear that we want to take the learning from the pilots that have happened around gender budgeting, and also, of course, the wider impacts that we need to consider on vulnerable groups, on children and young people, in our budgetary decisions.
One thing that I think we've been very clear on, and I think it's something that will be evident in the budget, and was evident in the supplementary budget yesterday, is the strides that we are taking on a very important measure for gender equality, which will absolutely impact women and those who give care, which is, of course, ploughing ahead with our very ambitious childcare programme. I'm hoping that the work of the Government in that regard will demonstrate how we are really ensuring that every pound that we spend will have a big impact on equality, and gender equality specifically.
Of course, this is a decision that lies with the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language. So, obviously, we can have inter-ministerial meetings, as you say, when a workforce is predominantly of one gender, but it's not a given either, is it? Anybody can become a teaching support member of staff. This is something that—
I will just say that this is a decision—. We have previously committed to look at this, I know. And obviously, through social partnership, as we do through the social partnership council, and many of the work streams that pertain to that, the groups that pertain to that council, this is an issue that we will obviously discuss in social partnership with the unions and the bodies that represent that workforce. But it isn't a decision for me.
Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiwn. Mae'n hynod o bwysig yn ystod y cyfnod yma o gofio—cofio am yr aberth sydd wedi bod gan rai sydd wedi gwasanaethu yn y lluoedd arfog ac wedi gweld rhyfel a brwydro a'r effaith mae hynny wedi ei gael arnyn nhw o ran eu lles corfforol a'u lles meddyliol, fel yr oedden ni'n trafod yn gynharach. Ond mae hefyd angen inni gofio bod yna fywyd wedyn ar ôl gwasanaethu a bod yna hefyd deuluoedd ynghlwm wrth yr aberth yna. Mae'n gallu bod yn aberth nid yn unig o ran colled, o ran colli aelodau o'r teulu, ond hefyd o ran beth mae'r gwasanaeth yna wedi meddwl i deuluoedd.
Dwi wedi siarad â nifer o bartneriaid i filwyr sy'n gwasanaethu nawr ac i gyn-filwyr, ac maen nhw wedi disgrifio i fi pa mor anodd mae'n gallu bod iddyn nhw a'u teuluoedd. Hyd yn oed os dyw'r partner ddim yn mynd i ryfel, maen nhw'n gorfod symud weithiau ar fyr rybudd ac mae'r plant yn gorfod setlo'n gyflym iawn mewn ysgolion gwahanol a symud ac yn y blaen. Weithiau, mae rhai o'r merched hefyd yn dweud wrthyf ei bod hi'n anodd iawn i gael gwaith. Maen nhw'n bobl sydd eisiau gweithio, pobl sydd â chymwysterau a rhywbeth i'w gynnig, ond dydyn nhw ddim yn gallu. Os ydyn nhw'n cael eu postio i'r Almaen, er enghraifft, maen nhw ond yn gallu gweithio ar y base. Felly, maen nhw'n ffeindio weithiau bod hwnna'n gallu bod yn rhwystredigaeth ac yn aberth er lles gyrfa eu partneriaid.
Mae'r Llywodraeth yma'n hollol glir bod gyda ni ddyled i aelodau ein lluoedd arfog. Mae sicrhau ein bod ni'n cefnogi cyfamod y lluoedd arfog ar draws y gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn ein rhaglen lywodraethu. Rwy'n ei weld e fel mater sydd yn berthnasol iawn i gyfiawnder cymdeithasol a chydraddoldebau, achos beth rŷn ni'n ceisio gwneud drwy'r hyn rŷn ni'n ariannu ac yn cefnogi yw lleihau unrhyw fath o anfantais sydd gan aelodau o'r lluoedd arfog. Byddaf i'n mynd â phapur i'r Cabinet am hyn a'r gweithredoedd pellach y gallwn ni eu cymryd ar hyn ar ddiwedd y mis.
Official English translation
Thank you very much for the question. It is extremely important during this period of remembrance—remembrance of the sacrifices that have been made by those who have served in the armed forces and have experienced war and fighting and the impact that that has had on them in terms of their physical and mental health, as we were discussing earlier. But we also need to bear in mind that there is life after service and that there are also families attached to that sacrifice. It can be a sacrifice not just in terms of loss in losing members of one's family, but also in terms of what that service has meant to families.
I have spoken to a number of partners of those currently serving and partners of veterans, and they have described to me how difficult it can be for them and their families. Even if the partner isn't engaged in war, they often have to move at short notice and the children have to settle very quickly in different schools and so on. Sometimes, some of the women tell me that it can be very difficult to get work. These are people who want to work, who have qualifications and a lot to offer, but they can't get a job. If they're posted to Germany, for example, they can only work on the base. So, they sometimes find that that can be a frustration and a sacrifice too for the benefit of their partner's career.
This Government is entirely clear that we have a debt to pay to members of our armed forces. Ensuring that we support the armed forces covenant across public services is part of our programme for government. I see it as an issue that is particularly pertinent to social justice and equalities because what we are seeking to do through what we fund and support is to reduce any disadvantage faced by members of the armed forces. I will be taking a paper to Cabinet on this issue and the further action that we can take in this area at the end of the month.
Tackling child poverty is a key commitment for this Government. The Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language and I have been briefed on the potential need to support learners from households with no recourse to public funds. We are now considering what further support may be required.
Of course, immigration policy, including no recourse to public funds, is reserved to the UK Government, but we absolutely recognise the pressures faced by people, and young people, in Wales subject to this condition. So, we absolutely recognise it can create barriers to accessing support.
Our guidance on supporting families with no recourse to public funds reminds local authorities of their discretionary powers under the Education Act of 1996 to provide meals free of charge, because no child should miss out on learning because they're hungry. That's why, of course, Plaid Cymru campaigned so hard for free school meals in primary schools, and also now we are working to expand that in a phased way, starting with the poorest children—those who are on universal credit—with no income limit then for them, for their families to be able to start expanding that into secondary schools. So, officials are still working closely with local authorities, reminding them of their discretionary powers, and through, of course, the Welsh Local Government Association to understand local circumstances, barriers and opportunities. And the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language will also meet the Bevan Foundation to discuss this next month. So, I'm sure, following that meeting, that the Cabinet Minister and I will consider that evidence, and then that will inform our future policy approach. But in the meantime, this Government encourages schools and local authorities to ensure that no child who arrives hungry is denied a meal in school.
I want to just make a point of fact here: that ‘no recourse to public funds’ is a visa condition restricting access to certain benefits and housing support. People on work or family visas can be affected. They're here legally. If they have children and they're in a difficult situation, then I would hope that most Members of this Chamber would want for this Government to find a way to make sure that those children are able to avail themselves of a hot meal when they get to school.
Diolch. As I said, this isn't a devolved policy area. It will be for the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language to make those representations directly, Minister to Minister. But, as I've said, we know that, in some local authorities, there is an inconsistency as regards how those discretionary powers under the education Act are applied. We will continue to work across devolved policy areas to consider what more can be done within our responsibilities to support people affected by no recourse to public funds, and that, of course, would include children of those families.
This was not a budget that delivered for Wales. We welcome measures, of course, within that budget, to ease some pressures on Welsh households, including action on energy costs, on fuel duty and on wages. But tackling poverty requires sustained targeted action, including, for example, on social tariffs, removing the benefit cap and increasing the local housing allowance.
Diolch yn fawr. Fe allai Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Gyfunol fod wedi cymryd y camau pellach yna i dargedu cefnogaeth ar gyfer y rheini sydd ei angen fwyaf, a dwi'n meddwl mai un o'r bylchau mwyaf amlwg o ran darparu'r gefnogaeth yna yng nghyllideb Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Gyfunol oedd y penderfyniad yna i beidio â dadrewi'r local housing allowance. Dŷn ni'n ystyried y byddai adfer LHA, ochr yn ochr â'r sefyllfa sydd yn y farchnad rhenti ar hyn o bryd, fel y gwnaethoch chi sôn, fod wedi cael cymaint o effaith ar atal digartrefedd ac ar atal cysgu ar y stryd—rhywbeth y gwnaeth y Prif Weinidog a'r Canghellor sôn oedd yn rhywbeth roedden nhw eisiau ei weld yn ganolog i'w gweledigaeth nhw.
Official English translation
Thank you very much. The UK Government could have taken those further steps to target support for those who need it most, and I do think that one of the clearest gaps in terms of providing that support in the UK Government's budget was the decision not to unfreeze the local housing allowance. We consider that restoring the LHA, alongside the situation in the rental market currently, as you mentioned, would have such an effect on stopping homelessness and sleeping on the streets—something that the Prime Minister and the Chancellor talked about as part of what they wanted to see as central to their vision.
In Wales, the freeze in LHA has that disproportionate impact on our households. Private sector rents increased by 4.5 per cent in the year to July this year, exceeding the UK average of 3.7 per cent. And we've had that report, haven't we, by Crisis Cymru, highlighting that this continued freeze is leaving so many vulnerable households unable to meet their housing costs and at a greater risk of homelessness. So, yes, unfreezing these rates would be consistent with the Prime Minister's stated aim and commitment to end homelessness, but what we are doing within our own powers, of course, is trying to support people with the cost of living. Our immediate focus is on helping to reduce costs for families. We want to maximise incomes because, for me, as I was saying in my earlier answers on the Welsh benefit system, getting that money
getting that money for which people are eligible into their pockets, while those welfare levels are often not sufficient. If we can just make sure they get everything that they can possibly have, that will help, obviously, boost household incomes and ensure—. For me as well, it's about dignity; it's not just about pounds and pence. We have a duty, as a Government, to look after and respect the people we are here to serve and making sure that everyone can afford a safe and warm home is surely the most essential thing that we can do.
We are working together to deliver the plan’s digital inclusion commitments. Through the digital inclusion Wales programme and grants, we’re supporting help in local communities and access to accessible technology, so disabled people can build confidence and use the services they need.
Thanks for that really important question. Accessibility is a cross-Government responsibility, so the disabled people's rights plan and digital service standard for Wales support services are built then around people's needs. Of course, digital inclusion means not digital only, doesn't it? It means that suitable telephone, face-to-face or paper alternatives must remain available where needed.
We know that too many disabled people in Wales still face unequal access to public services, so, grounded in the social model of disability, our disabled people's rights plan provides a shared framework for action to address those inequalities across Government in health, in education, in housing, in transport, in employment, in childcare and beyond. The social model, in essence, means removing barriers, doesn't it, understanding that it's barriers that disabled people face, and those are the things that we need to remove from society. So, with partners, including health and transport employers, we're making systems accessible, protecting and improving British Sign Language, telephone, face-to-face and written access, and developing also safeguards for disabled people to access and spend cash.
Er bod cyfiawnder wedi'i gadw'n ôl i Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Gyfunol ar hyn o bryd, rŷn ni'n gweithio'n agos â Gwasanaeth Carchardai a Phrawf Ei Fawrhydi, awdurdodau lleol a gwasanaethau cyfiawnder eraill i helpu pobl sy'n cael eu rhyddhau o'r carchar i gael mynediad at lety, gofal iechyd, gwasanaethau camddefnyddio sylweddau a chymorth ehangach. Mae ailsefydlu llwyddiannus yn allweddol i leihau aildroseddu, gwella canlyniadau a helpu pobl i ailadeiladu eu bywydau yn eu cymunedau.
Official English translation
Although justice is currently reserved to the UK Government, we work closely with His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service, local authorities and other justice partners to support people leaving prison to access accommodation, healthcare, substance misuse services and wider support. Effective resettlement is crucial to reducing reoffending, improving outcomes and enabling successful reintegration into communities.
yn tynnu sylw parhaus. Beth fydden ni'n ei wneud heb yr academwyr yna yn ein prifysgolion sy'n ein helpu ni i ddeall canlyniadau polisïau, gallwn ni edrych i wella yr hyn dŷn ni'n ei wneud er budd pobl Cymru—fel pobl sy'n gadael carchar. Wrth gwrs, fel wnaethon ni sôn, mae'n maniffesto ni a'n rhaglen lywodraethu ni wedi ailddatgan ein hymrwymiad hirsefydlog i ddyfalbarhau i geisio datganoli cyfiawnder. Mae e'n rhywbeth, wrth gwrs, mae canfyddiadau'r adroddiad yma sydd wedi'u cyhoeddi gan Ganolfan Llywodraethiant Cymru yn cryfhau'r achos dros hyn, onid yw e, fel ein bod ni'n gallu pwytho yn well y gwasanaethau hyn at ei gilydd er mwyn gwneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n gallu ymateb i anghenion a sefyllfaoedd carcharorion sy'n cael eu rhyddhau yn well. Mae'r angen yna am fwy o gydlyniant rhwng y system gyfiawnder a chyfrifoldebau datganoledig mor glir. Bydden nhw yn lleihau aildroseddu ac yn gwella, wrth, gwrs y canlyniadau ar gyfer y bobl sydd yn cael eu rhyddhau.
Felly, rŷn ni eisiau neud yn siŵr, ein blaenoriaeth ni wastad yw atal digartrefedd. Mae angen sicrhau ein bod ni'n nodi anghenion tai yn gynharach, yn gynt bob amser, a disgwyl wedyn i wasanaethau i gydweithio cyn i unigolyn adael y ddalfa. Rŷn ni'n gwybod yn rhy aml bod dim digon o rybudd yn cael ei roi a wedyn pobl yn ffeindio eu hunain mewn sefyllfa lle maen nhw'n ddigartref, ac mae hynny yn amlwg. Fel ŷn ni'n gwybod am bwysigrwydd carchar a thŷ sefydlog, onid efe, mae e'n gallu arwain at bob mathau o bwysau ar unigolion ac mae'n gallu arwain at y ffaith bod does gyda chi ddim unrhyw le i fyw, rŷch chi falle yn mynd i droi at dorcyfraith. Weithiau rŷn ni wedi cael enghreifftiau, onid ŷn ni, o bobl yn gwneud hynny er mwyn cael to uwch eu pen. Felly, mae e'n sefyllfa y mae'n rhaid i ni fynd i'r afael ag e. Rŷn ni'n ddiolchgar am ganfyddiadau yr adroddiad a bydd hyn yn pwytho i mewn i'n gwaith ni o ran y pethau dŷn ni yn gallu eu rheoli, ond mae e eto yn neud y ddadl yna dros ddatganoli cyfiawnder hyd yn oed yn gryfach.
Official English translation
who draw continuous attention to this. What would we do without those academics who help us to understand policy outcomes, and how we can look to improve what we’re doing for the benefit of the people of Wales—for example, people who leave prison? Of course, as we mentioned, our manifesto and our programme for government have restated our long-standing commitment to continue to try and devolve justice; it’s something, of course, the results of this report that has been published by the Wales Governance Centre strengthens the case for this so that we can bring together these services better to ensure that we can respond to the needs and situations of released prisoners in a better manner. There is a need for more co-ordination between the justice system and the devolved responsibilities, and this is so clear; they would reduce reoffending and improve, of course, the outcomes for people who are released.
So, we want to ensure our priority, of course, is to reduce homelessness. We need to note housing needs earlier at all times, and then expect services to work together before prisoners are released. We know too often that not enough notice is given and then people find themselves in a situation where they’re homeless, and that clearly, as we know, the importance of a stable home, and that can lead to all sorts of pressures on individuals, and it can lead to the fact that you don’t have anywhere to live; perhaps you’re going to turn to breaking the law. We’ve had examples, haven’t we, of people doing that in order to have a roof over their heads. So, it is a situation that we have to address. We’re thankful for the report’s outcomes and this will weave into our work and what we can manage, but again, it makes that case over devolving justice even stronger.
O fewn ein 100 diwrnod cyntaf, fe gynhalion ni adolygiad o strategaeth genedlaethol trais yn erbyn menywod, cam-drin domestig a thrais rhywiol. Rŷn ni'n gweithredu ar ei ganfyddiadau i gyhoeddi erbyn yr haf nesaf gamau i roi terfyn ar drais a cham-drin, sy'n canolbwyntio ar ei atal rhag digwydd yn y lle cyntaf. Mae hyn yn galw am weithredu ar y cyd i wneud Cymru yn lle mwy diogel i fenywod a merched.
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Within our first 100 days, we completed a review of the violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence national strategy. We are acting on its findings to publish by next summer a prevention-led approach to ending VAWDASV. This requires collective action to make Wales safer for women and girls.
Mi fydden i jest yn gofyn i'r Aelod bwyllo a deall bod rhain yn faterion sensitif iawn. Dwi yn meddwl ei bod hi'n bwysig bod ni, yn y lle cyntaf, ddim yn drysu hawliau merched yn gyfan gwbl gyda unrhyw beth sy'n ymwneud gyda diogelu diogelwch menywod, rhywbeth sydd fel roeddwn i wedi sôn yn fy ateb cychwynnol i chi. Mae'n blaenoriaeth ni yn glir: atal trais a cham-drin a diogelu menywod a merched. Mae hynny yn ein rhaglen lywodraethu ni, sicrhau bod y dioddefwyr a groesir yn cael y cymorth sydd ei angen arnyn nhw.
O ran dyfarniad y Goruchaf Lys, wrth gwrs, rŷn ni yn gwneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n cydymffurfio â'r gyfraith, fel yr eglurwyd gan y llys, ac wedyn dyna beth rydyn ni'n ei wneud
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I would ask the Member to pause and to understand that these are very sensitive issues. I do think it's important that we, in the first instance, don't confuse the rights of women and girls with anything that relates to the safeguarding of women, something that I mentioned in my initial response to you. Our priority is clear: preventing violence against women and safeguarding women and girls. That is part of our programme for government to ensure that victims and survivors get the support that they need.
In terms of the Supreme Court ruling, then, of course, we ensure that we comply with the law, as was explained by the court, and that is what we are doing
Diolch yn fawr. Mae ein blaenoriaeth ni yn glir: ddylai pobl ddim eu cael eu hunain yn ddigartref wrth adael y carchar. Er mai mater i Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Gyfunol yw cyfiawnder ar hyn o bryd, mae penderfyniadau am ryddhau carcharorion yn effeithio'n uniongyrchol ar wasanaethau datganoledig yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys, wrth gwrs, tai. Rŷn ni'n parhau i weithio'n agos gyda Gwasanaeth Carchardai a Phrawf Ei Fawrhydi a phartneriaid cyfiawnder i wella'r cynlluniau ar gyfer pobl Cymru sy'n gadael y ddalfa.
Official English translation
Thank you very much. Our priority is clear: people should not leave prison into homelessness. Although justice is currently reserved to the UK Government, decisions about prisoner release directly affect devolved services in Wales, including, of course, housing. We continue to work closely with His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and justice partners to improve planning for Welsh people leaving custody.
Diolch. Gwnaf i ddim ailadrodd nifer o'r pwyntiau a wnes i mewn ymateb i Jane Dodds, ond jest i gadarnhau ac i danlinellu bod hyn ddim yn sefyllfa dderbyniol yng ngolwg y Llywodraeth yma. Mae'r penderfyniadau yma ynglŷn â rhyddhau carcharorion yn cael effaith uniongyrchol ar wasanaethau tai a digartrefedd yng Nghymru, ac rydyn ni wrth gwrs yn cydnabod bod digartrefedd ymhlith pobl sy'n gadael y ddalfa wir yn her, ond hefyd yn gwbl annerbyniol. Felly, mae'r Llywodraeth yn parhau i geisio gweithio'n agos gyda HMPPS ac awdurdodau lleol i sicrhau bod y cynllunio yna cyn rhyddhau pobl o'r ddalfa yn cael ei wella.
Ac o ran yr hyn rydyn ni'n ei wneud, mae yna grŵp, y post-custody working group, sy'n cael ei gydgadeirio gan uwch-swyddogion o Lywodraeth Cymru a HMPPS, sydd wedi cael ei sefydlu ac mae yna ffocws penodol gan y grŵp yma ynglŷn â cheisio gwella'r cynllunio yna—gwneud hynny llawer ynghynt, ar y cyfnod cynharaf posibl fel bod cysgu ar y stryd a digartrefedd yn cael ei osgoi yn gyfan gwbl.
Official English translation
Thank you. I won't repeat a number of the points I made in response to Jane Dodds, but just to confirm and to underline that this is not an acceptable situation in the Government's view. These decisions regarding releasing prisoners have a direct effect on housing and homelessness services in Wales. And of course, we recognise that homelessness amongst those who leave custody is a real challenge, but also completely unacceptable. Therefore, the Government continues to work closely with HMPPS and local authorities to ensure that the planning is there before people are released from custody and that it is improved.
And in terms of what we are doing, a post-custody working group, which is co-chaired by senior officials from Welsh Government and HMPPS, has been established and there's a specific focus in this group on improving that planning, doing that much sooner, at the earliest stage possible, so that rough sleeping and homelessness are completely avoided.