WelshDeputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
Fe fyddaf i'n gweithio'n agos gyda'r Gweinidog Cabinet dros Addysg a'r Gymraeg i sicrhau bod yr holl dystiolaeth yn cael ei hystyried mewn unrhyw benderfyniadau polisi ar gefnogi dysgwyr trawsryweddol, anneuaidd ac sy'n cwestiynu eu rhywedd.
Official English translation
I will work closely with the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language to ensure that all the evidence is considered in any policy decisions on supporting transgender, non-binary and gender-questioning learners.
Jest i fod yn glir, dydyn ni ddim yn mynd i gyfnewid ein cynllun ar rifedd a llythrennedd. Mae hynny'n rhywbeth rydyn ni fel Llywodraeth wedi ei flaenoriaethu. Ond rydw i a'r Gweinidog dros addysg a'r Gymraeg am i bob plentyn a pherson ifanc yn ein hysgolion yng Nghymru gredu yn eu gallu i gyflawni i'r eithaf, a dwi'n cydnabod bod creu amgylchedd cefnogol yn ffordd bwysig o'u helpu i lwyddo. Mae arweinwyr polisi addysg Llywodraeth Cymru wedi datblygu canllawiau drafft anstatudol i ysgolion ar sut, er enghraifft, i gefnogi dysgwyr traws, anneuaidd a rhai sy'n cwestiynu eu rhywedd, o ganlyniad i ymgynghori helaeth â rhanddeiliaid, ac mae'r Gweinidog Cabinet dros Addysg a'r Gymraeg yn ymwybodol o'r angen am arweiniad a sensitifrwydd wrth fwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith hwn. O ystyried y pegynnu yn y farn gyhoeddus mewn perthynas â bywydau pobl ifanc traws, mae'n rhaid i ni fel Llywodraeth ystyried yn ofalus y camau rŷn ni'n eu cymryd. Fe dynnodd Dr Cass sylw yn ei hadroddiad at y ffaith nad yw'r pegynnu a natur docsig y drafodaeth ar y mater hwn yn hyrwyddo buddiannau plant a phobl ifanc, ac mae'n hanfodol, felly, fod lles pob dysgwr yn cael ei warchod tra'u bod nhw yn yr ysgol, a bod pob dysgwr yn teimlo croeso, a'u bod yn barod ac wedi eu cefnogi i ddysgu.
Official English translation
Just to be clear, we are not going to replace our plan on literacy and numeracy. That is something that we as a Government have prioritised. But I and the Minister for education and the Welsh language want every child and young person in our schools to believe in their ability to fulfil their potential, and I acknowledge that creating a supportive environment is an important way to help them to succeed. Education policy leads in the Welsh Government have developed non-statutory draft guidance for schools on how, for example, to support transgender, non-binary and gender-questioning learners, as a result of extensive consultation with stakeholders, and the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language is aware of the need for leadership and sensitivity in proceeding with this work. Bearing in mind the public discourse with regard to the lives of trans young people, we as a Government have to consider carefully the steps that we take. Dr Cass drew attention in her report to the fact that the discourse and the toxic nature of the discussion on this matter doesn't promote the interests of children and young people, and it's vital, therefore, that the well-being of every learner is safeguarded whilst they're at school, and that every learner feels that they are welcome, that they're ready and are supported to learn.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd ati i weithredu'r gyfraith yng Nghymru mewn ffordd sy'n glir, yn gyson ac yn ymarferol, gan sicrhau ar yr un pryd fod pob unigolyn yn cael eu trin ag urddas a pharch.
Official English translation
The Welsh Government are taking forward implementation of the law in Wales in a way that is clear, consistent and workable, while ensuring that all people are treated with dignity and respect.
Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiwn. Fel y gwnes i osod mas yn glir iawn ddoe, rŷn ni'n parchu dyfarniad y Goruchaf Lys ac yn bwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith—ac wedi bod yn bwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith ers i'r dyfarniad yna gael ei draddodi—sydd angen ei wneud i sicrhau bod polisi ac arferion datganoledig yn parhau i gydymffurfio â'r gyfraith fel yr eglurwyd gan y llys. Mae'n rhaid i'r gwaith yma gael ei wneud yn ofalus ac yn gyson, ac ar draws ystod o leoliadau datganoledig. O ran y Llywodraeth ei hunan, mae hynny'n fater i'r Ysgrifennydd Parhaol, a dwi'n gwybod bod y gwaith yna wedi bod yn bwrw rhagddo ers dyfarniad y Goruchaf Lys.
Gall rhai newidiadau gael eu gwneud yn gyflym. Mae angen ystyried, wedyn, rhai eraill ymhellach, i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n gyfreithlon, yn gymesur ac yn ymarferol. A bydd angen i unrhyw newidiadau i'r arferion presennol gydymffurfio â'r gyfraith a chael eu rhoi ar waith mewn ffordd glir, gymesur ac ymarferol.
Mae Deddf Cydraddoldeb 2010 yn dal i warchod pobl sydd â nodwedd warchodedig o fod wedi ailbennu rhywedd rhag unrhyw wahaniaethu yn eu herbyn, ac aflonyddu. Mae'n rhaid i ni gadw hynny mewn cof. Mae hon yn gymuned sy'n teimlo dan warchae ar hyn o bryd. Mae'n rhaid i ni fod yn sensitif i hynny ac, felly, edrych ar y camau ymarferol y gallwn ni eu gwneud wrth gydymffurfio â'r gyfraith a dyfarniad y Goruchaf Lys, ac wedyn, wrth weld y cod ymarfer a fydd yn dod i law, os bydd yn cael ei basio yn San Steffan, sut rydyn ni'n gwneud hynny.
Ac o ran y mater ynglŷn ag Aelodau Seneddol, wrth gwrs, mae dros 100 o Aelodau Seneddol o nifer o bleidiau wedi mynegi nad ydyn nhw'n teimlo bod y cod sydd wedi'i osod, ac fel mae e wedi'i ddrafftio ar hyn o bryd, yn gwneud hynny yn ddigon gofalus—y pwyntiau dwi wedi'u hamlinellu fan hyn. Ac felly, wrth gwrs, mae ganddyn nhw'r hawl i gwestiynu hynny yn unol â'r system ddemocrataidd.
Official English translation
Thank you very much for that question. As I set out very clearly yesterday, we respect the Supreme Court ruling and are progressing with the work—and have been progressing with the work since that ruling was made—that needs to be done to ensure that policy and devolved practice continue to comply with the law as outlined by the Supreme Court. This work has to be done carefully and consistently, and across a range of devolved areas. In terms of the Government itself, that is a matter for the Permanent Secretary, and I know that this work has been progressing since the Supreme Court ruling.
Some changes can be made quickly. We will then need to consider others further in order to ensure that they are legal, proportionate and practical. And any changes to current practice will need to comply with the law, and will need to be implemented in a proportionate and practical way.
The Equality Act 2010 still protects those who have protected characteristics of gender reassignment from any discrimination or harassment against them, and we must bear that in mind. This is a community that feels under siege at the moment, and we must be sensitive to that. So, we need to look at the practical steps that we can take whilst complying with the Supreme Court ruling, and then, in seeing the code of practice that will come forward, if it is passed in Westminster, we will need to consider how we do that.
And in terms of the issue of Members of Parliament, there are over 100 Members of Parliament from many parties who have expressed that they don't feel that the code that has been tabled, and the way it's currently drafted, does that carefully enough, in line with the points that I've already outlined here. And therefore, of course, they have the right to question that in accordance with the democratic system.
Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiwn. Mae'r Llywodraeth yma'n glir bod Cymru yn genedl i bawb sy'n ymgartrefu yma. Beth bynnag eu hiaith, beth bynnag eu tras ethnig, mae e'n rhywle y mae pawb yn gallu ei alw'n gartref, ac fe fyddwn ni fel Llywodraeth wastad yn cefnogi pob un o'n dinasyddion ni.
Wrth gwrs, mae hunaniaeth Gymraeg a Chymreig yn rhywbeth sydd angen ei drysori a'i warchod, ond, yn yr un modd, dyw e ddim yn rhywbeth caeedig; mae e'n rhywbeth gwbl agored. Mae unrhyw un yn gallu dysgu Cymraeg, er enghraifft, ac mae'r Llywodraeth yma eisiau gwneud yn siŵr bod gan bawb yng Nghymru y cyfle i wneud hynny. Mae edrych nôl ar ein hanes, a deall cymhlethdod ein hanes, yn rhywbeth hanfodol os ydyn ni eisiau deall pwy ydyn ni ac i ble rydyn ni'n mynd ac effaith yr hanes hynny ar bob un o'n dinasyddion. Felly, dwi ddim yn derbyn yr hyn y mae'r Aelod yn ei rhoi ymlaen, o ran y ffaith ein bod ni, wrth wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n gwarchod pawb rhag hiliaeth, er enghraifft, drwy'r cynllun sydd gyda ni, yn peryglu hynny mewn unrhyw fodd.
Official English translation
Thank you very much for the question. This Government is clear that Wales is a nation for everyone who makes their home here. Whatever their language, whatever their racial origin, it's a place where everyone can call home, and we as a Government will always support every one of our citizens.
Of course, the Welsh identity is something that must be treasured and safeguarded, but it isn't a closed entity; it's open to all. Anyone can learn Welsh for example, and this Government wants to ensure that everyone in Wales has the opportunity to do just that. Looking back at our history, and understanding the complexity of our history, is vital if we want to understand who we are, where we're going and the impact of that history on every one of our citizens. So, I don't accept what the Member has put forward, in terms of the fact that we, in ensuring that we safeguard everyone from racism, for example, through the plan that we have, are endangering that in any way.
Diolch. As I said in my statement yesterday, and as we have set out in our manifesto, we are committed to upholding the principles of the armed forces covenant to ensure fair access to healthcare, housing, employment, education, skills and training for veterans and their families. The Prif Weinidog showed this clearly in one of the first visits that he has undertaken as Prif Weinidog. He visited Valley Veterans in Ton Pentre last week, where he made clear our commitment to the covenant and heard from veterans there.
I firmly believe that the covenant is a social justice and equalities issue. It is about reducing disadvantage that can occur as a result of service and affording special consideration to those who have given the most, such as those who have been injured or bereaved through service. Whilst, for many, service is a positive experience, many will also need our support as a result of that service, including, of course, from devolved services. So, I'm looking forward to working with colleagues across Government to carry through our manifesto commitment in this area. I expect to provide the Senedd with a legislative consent memorandum in respect of the Armed Forces Bill, including its plans for broadening the armed forces covenant, shortly. So, I'm looking forward to working with UK Ministers to make sure that any plans related to the armed forces community here in Wales take full account of devolution.
Bydd yr Aelod yn gwybod, wrth gwrs, fod hwn yn gyhoeddiad a wnaed gan y Llywodraeth ddiwethaf. Yn ôl yr hyn rwy'n deall, ac rwyf wedi holi am hyn—. Un o'r pethau cyntaf y gwnes i holi amdano, a dweud y gwir, pan ddes i mewn i'r rôl yma oedd gofyn am sicrhad bod yr arian yna wedi mynd mas i'r awdurdodau lleol. Rwy'n deall mai dyna yw'r achos a'u bod nhw wedi cael y canllawiau sydd eu hangen er mwyn dosbarthu'r arian yna. Ond dwi'n hapus i ysgrifennu at yr Aelod i roi sicrwydd ynglŷn â hynny a chael yr union ffigurau y mae hi wedi gofyn amdanyn nhw.
Official English translation
The Member will know, of course, that this was an announcement made by the previous Government. As far as I understand, and I have asked about this—. One of the first things that I asked about, truth be told, when I came into this position, was for an assurance that the funding had gone to the local authorities. I understand that that is the case and that they have received the guidance that they need to distribute that funding. But I'm happy to write to the Member to give her further assurance and to give her the figures that she's asked for.
Diolch yn fawr, a diolch am y geiriau yna. Dwi'n gwybod ein bod ni'n rhannu nifer o'n gwerthoedd craidd ni yn y maes cyfiawnder cymdeithasol. Dwi'n edrych ymlaen at gydweithio, fel y gwnaethom ni gydweithio wrth graffu ar y Llywodraeth flaenorol. Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cynnig yna ac am y geiriau yna.
Official English translation
Thank you very much, and thank you for your words. I know that we share many core values in the area of social justice. I look forward to working with you, as we worked together in scrutinising the previous Government. Thank you very much for that offer and for your words.
This is one of the main things I think that we really need to tackle. The previous Government did spend an awful lot of money, quite rightly so, on trying to support our most vulnerable citizens, including, of course, children in poverty, but we haven't seen the dial shift. Much of the scrutiny that we did in the last Senedd, through committee work and in other ways, has shown this quite clearly, I think. That's why I've made it a priority of mine to be able to look again specifically at the child poverty strategy, but all across the measures that we're taking to alleviate suffering, to alleviate inequality, and to be providing different types of support.
We have made it clear as a Government that we will be having a digital dashboard. My colleague the Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution is currently working on that, and I have no doubt that he will have a lot of interest in the targets and milestones that I will be setting, specifically in the child poverty strategy, but across everything that I have promised to deliver in this space.
I completely agree with the way that you've summed up there the struggle that people are feeling. We've all been out knocking doors for months and we know that it's tough out there. I think people are quite right to ask why politics has failed them. I think a lot of that is to do with the austerity politics that we saw from the UK Tory Government over those many years, and we haven't seen the change that we needed thus far under the UK Labour Government. As I say, in Wales, we did do things differently, and we were ready to work with the previous Welsh Labour Government on things like free school meals, where we knew that was going to make a real difference—people were going to really feel that in their everyday lives.
As regards the things that I want to do, I do want to deliver decisive change in the real lives of people, the real priorities of people in Wales. That's why I've had such a clear focus on the things that I'm hoping to achieve and that I've already started work on in these first few weeks that we've been in power—really targeting efforts towards the key policies that will have the biggest impact on people in Wales and their daily lives. Of course, that, for instance, is about tackling child poverty and helping families with the cost of living through rolling out the most generous childcare offer anywhere in the UK, developing that Cynnal payment of £10. We know that direct cash payments, as we've seen in Scotland, are a really effective way of making a difference in people's lives.
The other thing that I would like to do is that shift to the preventative. We don't want people to be suffering the consequences of poverty. That involves streamlining the Welsh benefits system, the work that was begun under the previous Welsh Labour Government. But now, under our Government, we want to make it even more efficient. Because too often, people are not claiming what they're entitled to. I want to really put an emphasis on that. I've started work on reviewing and streamlining that system, so people can get that help, the help that they are entitled to, as quickly and as easily as they're able.
Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiwn. Wnaf i ddim ailadrodd yr hyn a wnes i ei ddweud wrth ymateb i Shavanah Taj, ond yn amlwg mae'r pethau yna yn mynd i wneud gwahaniaeth. Rŷn ni'n gwybod bod costau gofal plant yr uchaf yn y Deyrnas Gyfunol yng Nghymru, ac felly mae sicrhau eich bod chi yn gallu mynd allan i waith, yn enwedig menywod, os ŷch chi am wneud hynny, a'ch bod chi'n gallu fforddio gwneud hynny, ei fod e'n gwneud sens ichi wneud hynny, eich bod chi'n gallu cynyddu'ch incwm, eich bod chi'n gallu mynd ymlaen yn eich gyrfa, yn rhywbeth fydd pobl yn ei deimlo ar unwaith.
Mae angen iddo fod gam wrth gam—dŷn ni wedi bod yn glir ar hynny—ond fe fyddwn ni nawr yn uchafu rolio allan at bob plentyn dwy flwydd oed nawr o fewn y flwyddyn gyntaf yma y byddwn ni mewn grym. Felly, bydd hwn yn cael ei deimlo yn syth gan bobl. Yn amlwg, bydd y teuluoedd a fydd yn rhan o'r peilot yn teimlo hynny ar unwaith, gobeithio o fewn blwyddyn o fod mewn grym. Yn yr un modd, gwnaethoch chi sôn nad yw pobl ddim eisiau peilot. Byddwn i'n hoffi peidio â rhedeg peilot ar hwn. Does gyda ni ddim y grym ar hyn o bryd, achos does gyda ni ddim y pwerau wedi'u datganoli dros les. Dyna'r ffordd fwyaf effeithiol i sicrhau bod pobl yn cael eu gwarchod os dyw eu hincwm nhw ddim yn cwrdd â'u hanghenion nhw.
Dŷn ni'n mynd i fod yn gweithio, er enghraifft, hefyd, ar renti teg. Mae hynny'n mynd i wneud gwahaniaeth anferth i bobl. Yn amlwg, fel y gwnaethoch chi sôn ar ddechrau eich cwestiwn, mae fy mhortffolio i yn rhywbeth mae pobl yn ei deimlo, achos mae pobl yn teimlo anghydraddoldeb—anghydraddoldebau o bob math, ac anghydraddoldeb economaidd yn bennaf. Mae gyda ni lefelau lot rhy uchel o dlodi yng Nghymru, felly byddaf i yn gweithio ar draws y Cabinet i sicrhau ein bod ni yn gallu gweithio tuag at leihau y lefelau hynny o anghydraddoldeb.
Official English translation
Thank you very much for the question. I won't rehearse what I said in response to Shavanah Taj, but clearly those things will make a difference. We know that childcare costs are the highest in the UK in Wales, and therefore, ensuring that you can go out to work, especially for women, if you choose to do that, and that you can afford to do that, that it makes sense financially for you to do that, that you can increase your income and that you can progress in your career, is something that people will feel immediately.
It has to be phased—we have been clear on that—but we will now be prioritising the roll-out for all two-year-olds within this first year in power. So, that will be felt immediately by people. Clearly, those families who will be part of the pilot will feel that immediately, hopefully within a year of having been in power. Likewise, you mentioned that people don't want pilots. I would like to not run a pilot here. But we don't have the power at the moment, because we don't have the devolved powers over welfare. That's the most effective way of ensuring that people are protected if their income doesn't meet their needs.
We will be, for example, working on fair rents. That will make a huge difference to people. Clearly, as you mentioned at the beginning of your question, my portfolio is something that people will feel, because they feel that inequality—inequalities of all kinds, and particularly economic inequality. We have poverty levels that are far too high in Wales, and I'll be working across the Cabinet to ensure that we can work towards reducing those levels of inequality.
Diolch am hynny. Mae hi'n anodd, a dweud y gwir, clywed rhywun o'r Blaid Geidwadol yn sôn am dlodi plant. Mae'n rhaid i chi gydnabod ac mae'n rhaid i chi berchnogi fel plaid y niwed economaidd a'r niwed a wnaethoch chi i deuluoedd ar draws Cymru am dros ddegawd—am fwy na hynny. Dwi'n un o blant y 1980au, dwi'n un o blant y maes glo, a dwi'n cofio beth ddigwyddodd o dan Margaret Thatcher yn fy nghymuned i. Mae'n un o'r rhesymau pam ddes i mewn i wleidyddiaeth, a dweud y gwir. Ond gwnaf dderbyn y pwynt a gwnaf dderbyn yr her, achos dyma'r gwaith dwi eisiau ei wneud. Dwi eisiau gwneud yn iawn am hynny, am yr anghydraddoldebau a'r lefelau annerbyniol yna o dlodi y gwnaethoch chi gyfeirio atynt.
Fel y soniais i, dŷn ni yn y Llywodraeth yma ddim yn ofni craffu—a dweud y gwir, dŷn ni'n croesawu craffu. Dŷn ni eisiau gwneud yn siŵr, gyda'r cyllid sydd gyda ni, gyda'r pwerau sydd gyda ni, ein bod ni yn gwneud i bob punt gyfrif. Am rhy hir, mae yna nifer fawr o raglenni wedi bod a dŷn ni ddim wedi gweld yr effaith. Dwi'n cytuno gyda chi ar hynny. Dyna pam dwi eisiau, er enghraifft, adolygu'r strategaeth sydd gyda ni, gosod y targedau yna. Fe fydd y Lywodraeth hon yn anelu at hynny, a gwneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n trio ymgyrraedd at y targedau hynny, ac, wrth gwrs, gweithio mewn partneriaeth i wneud hynny.
Fe fyddaf i, wythnos nesaf a dweud y gwir, yn trafod yr union beth yma gyda'r child poverty expert reference group, sydd yn barod iawn wastad i roi syniadau ac i fod yn ffrind beirniadol i Lywodraeth. Felly, trwy mecanweithiau fel hynny, trwy gael y targedau clir a mesuradwy hynny, a meincnodi a chael cerrig milltir ar hyd y ffordd, dwi'n gobeithio y bydd y Senedd hon a phobl Cymru yn medru mesur a gweld ein cynnydd. Ac fe fydd y Llywodraeth yma yn atebol am hynny.
Official English translation
Thank you for that. It is difficult to listen to someone from the Conservative Party talking about child poverty. You have to acknowledge and you have to take ownership as a party of the economic damage and the damage you did to families across Wales for over a decade—for longer than that. I am child of the 1980s, I am the child of the coalfields, and I remember what happened under Margaret Thatcher in my community. It's one of the reasons why I came into politics, if truth be told. But I will accept the point and I will accept the challenge, because that's the work I want to do. I want to deal with those inequalities and those unacceptable levels of poverty that you referred to.
As I mentioned, we in this Government don't fear scrutiny—in fact, we welcome scrutiny. We want to ensure, with the funding available and the powers available to us, that we make every pound count. For too long, there have been a number of programmes and we haven't seen their impact. I agree with you on that. That's why I, for example, want to review the strategies that we have, to set those targets. This Government will aim towards doing that, and ensure that we attain those targets, and, of course, we will work in partnership to do that.
Next week, in fact, I will be discussing this very issue with the child poverty expert reference group, which is always willing to put ideas forward and to be a critical friend of Government. So, through mechanisms such as that, by having those clear and measurable targets, and benchmarking and having milestones along the way, I do hope that this Parliament and the people of Wales will be able to measure and see our progress. And this Government will be accountable for that.
Diolch am y cwestiwn. Yn Fflint Wrecsam, fel ar draws Cymru gyfan, rwyf wedi ymrwymo i gyfiawnder cymdeithasol a chydraddoldeb i bawb o bob cefndir. Parch, undod a chwarae teg fydd yr egwyddorion sy'n llywio fy ngwaith i fynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldeb ac adeiladu cymunedau tecach, mwy diogel ac unedig.
Official English translation
Thank you for the question. In Fflint Wrecsam, as across the whole of Wales, I am committed to social justice and equality for everyone from all backgrounds. Respect, solidarity and fair play will be the principles guiding my work to tackle inequality and build fairer, safer and united communities.
Interfaith working is very important, and supporting faith communities, of course, is a very important aspect of my work. I would certainly be amenable to meet with you to hear about this particular issue. Of course, it is for local authorities to decide their own policies on these, and I would urge you to take this up as well with the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language in this case. But certainly, as regards the rights of people in faith communities, I'd be very willing to meet with you.
Diolch. O ran hawliau dynol, yn amlwg mae hynny wrth graidd, fel gwnes i osod mas yn fy natganiad ddoe, popeth rŷn ni’n ei wneud. Mae anghydraddoldeb yn achosi nid yn unig niwed i unigolion a grwpiau penodol o bobl, ond mae hefyd yn gallu achosi costau ychwanegol i’r pwrs cyhoeddus. Felly, rŷn ni wedi gwneud yn siŵr ein bod ni eisiau ystyried sut yn union mae hawliau dynol yn cryfhau sut mae pobl yn medru cael eu cefnogi ymhob agwedd o'u bywydau nhw. Dwi’n meddwl bod hynny'n helpu pob math o benderfyniadau o ran gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, o ran sut rŷn ni'n cefnogi pobl pan maen nhw'n mynd at wasanaethau. Felly, dwi yn meddwl bod hyn yn fuddsoddiad pwysig a chreiddiol, ac mae'n rhywbeth rŷn ni fel Llywodraeth Cymru yn meddwl sy'n gwbl hanfodol i'n gwaith ni o ran creu Cymru decach a Chymru sy'n gweithio i bob un o'i dinasyddion.
Official English translation
Thank you. In terms of human rights, clearly that is at the heart, as I set out in my statement yesterday, of everything that we do. Inequality causes not only harm to individuals and specific groups of people, but it can also cause additional costs to the public purse. So, we have ensured that we want to consider how exactly human rights strengthen how people can be supported in every aspect of their lives. I think that that helps all kinds of decisions in terms of public services with regard to how we support people when they turn to specific services. So, I think that this is an important and crucial investment, and it's something that we as a Welsh Government believe is completely vital to our work in terms of creating a fairer Wales and a Wales that works for every one of its citizens.
Diolch yn fawr. We are committed to tackling poverty, including food poverty, and improving access to affordable, healthy and nutritious food for people in Wales. Our 100-day plan sets out how we will drive transformational change for people across Wales, working to develop a comprehensive national food strategy.
Tackling food poverty and improving access to affordable, healthy and nutritious food is a priority for this Welsh Government. I think it requires co-ordinated action across a range of portfolios, including health, including education, including rural affairs also, and social justice, of course. And so we are going to take forward a whole-system approach to address both the immediate impacts of food insecurity and its underlying causes. And, of course, that includes action to maximise household incomes, to reduce costs, alongside measures, then, to improve the availability and affordability of healthy foods. So, early work is already under way to set out how the national food strategy will be taken forward, and the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability has held conversations already with several key stakeholders on this, including the future generations commissioner. We're also continuing to invest, of course, in programmes that improve access to healthy food and support preventative health, including free school meals and wider initiatives that build food skills and literacy, while ensuring that food provision supports our ambitions for healthier diets. And I think that the Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health has a key role in this as well, so I’ll be working closely with her.
Diolch. There is already, of course, a framework and regulations in place, but making sure that we improve access—the procurement power of our public services and of Welsh Government is really key in doing this. So, as I said, we are taking forward this whole-system approach to address not just the impacts of food insecurity, but also the quality and the healthiness of that food. And so we will, as I said, as part of the food strategy, be looking at every aspect of this across our public services.
Diolch am y cwestiwn. Dwi'n cytuno'n llwyr gyda'ch dadansoddiad chi o ran pwysigrwydd prydau ysgol am ddim. Dyma, wrth gwrs, pam wnaethon ni wthio, pan oedden ni mewn cytundeb cydweithredu gyda'r Llywodraeth ddiwethaf, fod hyn yn rhywbeth roedden ni eisiau ei weld, ac mae wedi talu ar ei ganfed, dwi'n meddwl, fel dywedais i ddoe. Yn sicr nawr, wrth inni weld costau bwyd yn cynyddu, mae e'n rhywbeth sydd wir yn helpu plant a theuluoedd, ac sy'n sicrhau bod rhai plant, fel gwnaethoch chi sôn, yn cael y pryd twym, iach yna sydd dirfawr ei angen arnyn nhw, nid yn unig er mwyn eu bod nhw'n gallu dysgu yn yr ysgol, ond hefyd, wrth gwrs, er mwyn eu hiechyd nhw. Ac o ran hynny, mae'r cyfrifoldeb am brydau bwyd am ddim yn eistedd o fewn portffolio y Gweinidog Cabinet dros Addysg a'r Gymraeg, ond dwi'n sicr yn hapus i sicrhau ein bod ni'n cael sgwrs am y mater rŷch chi wedi'i godi.
Official English translation
Thank you for that question. I agree entirely with your analysis in terms of the importance of free school meals. This, of course, is why we pushed, when we were in a co-operation agreement with the previous Government, that this was something that we would want to see, and it has paid off, I think, as I said yesterday. Certainly now, as we see food costs increasing, it is something that really does help children and families, and ensures that some children, as you mentioned, do get that nutritious, hot meal that they so desperately need, not only so that they can learn at school, but also, of course, for the benefit of their health. And in that regard, the responsibility for free school meals sits within the portfolio of the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, but I am certainly happy to ensure that we do discuss the issue that you've raised.
A really important question and something on which I wholeheartedly agree with the Member, as regards the importance of nutrition in those early years. You will know, of course, that we, as a Welsh Government, fund the Healthy Start scheme, providing nutritional support to low-income pregnant women and families with young children under four years, and the core aim of that is to improve dietary intake, obviously, during pregnancy. Because pregnancy is such a crucial part—it's not always fully recognised, is it, but many of those key health outcomes can start in pregnancy for babies and children, so it's a critical period for that lifelong health, and, of course, there is that support, through that scheme, to buy fruit and vegetables, milk, pulses, infant formula and free vitamins. And also, of course, there is the nursery milk scheme in Wales, so all children under five years old in approved childcare settings of two hours or more receive a free third of a pint of milk.
But I absolutely agree that this is a key issue and it's something that I will be looking at, together with my colleague the Minister for health and social care and my colleague the Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health, as regards looking at the child poverty strategy and the work around that as regards outcomes. This will be a crucial part of that, I think.
Diolch am y cwestiwn. Mae ein cynllun ar gyfer y 100 diwrnod cyntaf yn nodi camau i fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys ym Mhontypridd Cynon Merthyr, drwy ddatblygu taliad plant Cynnal, ehangu cynnig gofal plant newydd trawsnewidiol i bob teulu a chynllun tlodi plant newydd, gan amlinellu targedau clir, mesuradwy i wella bywydau plant a theuluoedd.
Official English translation
Our first 100 days plan sets out action to tackle child poverty across Wales, including in Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr, through the development of the Cynnal child payment, the expansion of a transformational new universal childcare offer and a new child poverty plan with clear, measurable targets to improve outcomes for children and families.
We want to give every child the best start in life and we refuse to accept that one in three of our children should be condemned to living in poverty and all that that means for them throughout their lives. We are already making progress on preparing for the implementation of the Cynnal pilot, the Welsh child payment. We've established an expert group to help us design, deliver and plan the monitoring and evaluation of the scheme so that it launches on a sound evidence-based founding, and as soon as that preparation is complete, we'll be rolling it out. As I announced yesterday in my statement, I've asked Dr Steffan Evans from the Bevan Foundation to join me in co-chairing that group. I've asked to co-chair it, because I want to make sure that we do this work at pace and I want to make sure that we are able to evidence properly what this will mean for Welsh families. The group brings together a broad range of perspectives and expertise, independent academics and researchers, front-line professionals, individuals with lived experience and, of course, Welsh Government officials. So, we will ensure that that pilot is informed by evidence and grounded in the realities of people's lives. And so that has started now, in the first 100 days, and as I said, we'll be looking to roll that out as soon as we can afterwards.
Diolch am y cwestiwn. Dwi'n meddwl fy mod i wedi sôn yn barod, wrth ateb rhai o'r cwestiynau blaenorol, sut mae hynny—. Dwi wedi bod yn sôn am nifer o'r Gweinidogion yn y Llywodraeth y byddaf i'n dymuno gweithio yn drawslywodraethol gyda nhw. Rŷn ni wedi ymrwymo fel Llywodraeth i roi hwb i incwm aelwydydd, codi teuluoedd allan o dlodi, a dwi wedi sôn, wrth gwrs, am rai o'r mesurau pendant byddaf i'n eu cymryd er mwyn gwneud hynny. Dyna pam dŷn ni'n moyn cael cynllun newydd sydd wedi ei dargedu yn benodol i fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant, ac fe fydd iechyd plant yn rhan fawr o hynny. Dwi'n cofio, pan ddaeth y strategaeth ddrafft tlodi plant mas gyda'r Llywodraeth ddiwethaf, doedd yna ddim sôn am iechyd ynddi hi, ac i fi a'r rheini ohonom ni oedd yn craffu ar hynny ar y pryd—. Fe ddaeth wedyn yn y drafft terfynol oherwydd y craffu, ond mae e yn elfen hollbwysig, fel dwi'n sôn. Os dŷn ni ddim yn buddsoddi wrth wneud y gwaith yma—ac mae e'n waith cymhleth ac mae'n waith costus—mae'r pris y byddwn ni'n ei dalu fel cymunedau, fel y gymuned rŷch chi'n ei chynrychioli, yn ofnadwy o uchel, nid yn unig yn nhermau beth mae hynny'n ei feddwl o ran gwariant cyhoeddus, ond hefyd, wrth gwrs, i aelodau ac yn enwedig plant y cymunedau hynny.
Official English translation
Thank you for the question. I think I've already mentioned, in answering some previous questions, how that—. I've talked about many of the Ministers within Government that I would wish to work on a cross-governmental basis with. We are committed, as a Government, to boosting household income, to lifting families out of poverty, and I've mentioned some of the measures that I will put in place in order to do that. That's why we need a new plan that is specifically targeted to address child poverty, and children's health will be a major part of that. I remember, when the draft child poverty strategy was issued by the last Government, there was no mention of health, and for me and those of us who were scrutinising that at the time—. It then was included in the final draft because of that scrutiny, but it is a crucially important element, as I've mentioned. If we don't invest in doing this work—and it is complex and expensive work—the price that we will pay as communities, and that the community that you represent will pay, is exceptionally high, not only in terms of what that means in terms of public expenditure but also for people, and particularly children, within those communities.
Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiwn. Yn amlwg, fe fydd yna rai pethau y byddwn ni, yn sicr, er enghraifft, y prydau bwyd am ddim, oedd yn rhywbeth oedd yn bolisi a wnaethon ni ddod ag ef i'r bwrdd, a dŷn ni wedi sôn sawl gwaith yn ystod y prynhawn heddiw pa mor bwysig yw hynny. Dwi'n gwybod hefyd y gwahaniaeth mae hynny'n gallu ei wneud, ac mae teuluoedd wedi dweud wrthyf fi wrth i ni gnocio drysau ac wrth i ni ymwneud â'n hetholwyr pa mor bwysig yw hynny iddyn nhw.
Yr un peth byddaf i'n ei ddweud yw bod y Llywodraeth ddiwethaf wedi gwario, a dwi'n cydnabod hynny'n llwyr, lot mawr o arian, ac wedi cynnal lot mawr o raglenni er mwyn ceisio lleddfu tlodi. Beth dŷn ni ddim yn ei weld yw gostyngiad digon effeithiol yn y lefelau o dlodi oherwydd hynny, ac mae'r Llywodraeth yma wedi ymrwymo i fod yn un sy'n gweithredu ar allbynnau: os nad oes yna rywbeth yn cael yr effaith dŷn ni eisiau ei weld, bod angen i ni edrych eto ar y mathau o raglenni dŷn ni yn eu targedu, lle ŷn ni'n eu targedu nhw, sut maen nhw'n gweithio. Oes yna ddyblygu? Oes yna gronfeydd sy'n rhy fach, er enghraifft, i gael effaith? Oes angen cynyddu gwario mewn rhai llefydd? Byddwn ni, wrth gwrs, yn ehangu prydau bwyd am ddim i gyrraedd y disgyblion hynny mewn ysgol uwchradd sy'n ddigon tlawd i fod ar gredyd cynhwysol ond ddim yn gallu hawlio pryd bwyd am ddim. Dwi'n gwybod bydd hynny, er enghraifft, yn gwneud gwahaniaeth mawr i'r teuluoedd hynny.
Official English translation
Thank you very much for the question. Clearly, there'll be some things that we will, certainly, for example, the free school meals, which were a policy that we brought to the table, and we've mentioned several times this afternoon how important that is. I know too the difference that that can make, and families have told me, as we knocked on doors and as we engaged with our constituents, how important that is to them.
The one thing that I will say is that the previous Government spent, and I acknowledge that, a great deal of money, and supported many programmes to try to alleviate child poverty. What we haven't seen is a sufficiently effective decrease in terms of those poverty levels as a result, and this Government is committed to being one that operates on the basis of outcomes: if something isn't having the impact that we want to see, we need to look again at the types of programmes that we are targeting, where we target them, how they're working. Is there duplication? Are there funds that are too small perhaps to have an impact? Do we need to increase expenditure in some areas? We will, of course, be expanding our free school meals programme to reach those pupils in secondary school that are sufficiently poor to be on universal credit but aren't able to claim free school meals. I know that that will make a huge difference to those families.
Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiwn. Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Gyfunol sy'n gyfrifol am faterion yn ymwneud â swyddfeydd post. Dwi'n ystyried bod y gwasanaethau sy'n cael eu cynnig gan ein swyddfeydd post lleol, fel mynediad at arian parod a bancio sylfaenol, yn hanfodol i les ac iechyd ein cymunedau, ac fe fyddaf i'n sicrhau bod hyn yn cael ei bwysleisio mewn unrhyw gyfarfodydd yn y dyfodol gyda Swyddfa'r Post.
Official English translation
Thank you very much for the question. It's the UK Government that is responsible for matters related to post offices. I consider the services offered by our local post offices, such as access to cash and basic banking, essential to the health of our communities, and I will ensure that this is stressed in any future meetings with the Post Office.
Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiwn. Dwi'n cynllunio'n llwyr gyda'r Aelod ynglŷn â phwysigrwydd swyddfeydd post, fel gwnes i sôn yn fy ateb cychwynnol. Wrth gwrs, fel soniais i, dyw'r materion sy'n ymwneud â nhw ddim wedi eu datganoli i Weinidogion Cymru, ac mae ymrwymiad Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Gyfunol i swyddfeydd post yn cynnwys cynlluniau i gadw maint y rhwydwaith fel y mae. Mae hyn yn golygu chwilio weithiau am fusnesau newydd i gynnig y gwasanaethau pan fydd swyddfeydd post lleol yn cau. Mae hefyd yn cynnwys ymrwymiad i leoli swyddfeydd post yng nghanol trefi lle bo modd, a dwi'n meddwl bod hynny'n hollbwysig hefyd, yn enwedig wrth i ni weld nifer o'n banciau stryd fawr yn symud o'n strydoedd mawr ni.
Mae ein maniffesto ni yn cynnwys nifer o ymrwymiadau penodol sy'n gysylltiedig ag adfywio canol trefi. Efallai y bydd y mater yma'n cysylltu gyda gwaith ehangach y tasglu canol trefi a fydd yn cael ei sefydlu fel rhan o'n cynllun 100 diwrnod ni. Ac fe fyddwn ni'n nodi rhagor o fanylion ynglŷn â chynigion adfywio ar gyfer y dyfodol a ddaw i'r amlwg o'r gwaith hwnnw. Felly, mae hynny'n rhywbeth y gallwn ni ei wneud yma o dan ein pwerau ni.
Official English translation
Thank you very much for the question. I agree entirely with the Member with regard to the importance of post offices, as I mentioned in my initial response. Of course, as I mentioned, matters relating to post offices aren't devolved to Welsh Ministers, and the commitment of the UK Government to post offices includes plans to maintain the size of the network as it is. That means that we need to look for new businesses to maintain the provision when local post offices close. It also includes a commitment to locate post offices in town centres where that's possible, and I think that's crucial, especially as we see a number of our high-street banks moving away from our high streets.
Our manifesto includes a number of specific commitments related to regenerating town centres. Perhaps this matter will connect to the wider work of the town-centre taskforce that will be established as part of our 100 days plan. And we will be outlining more details in terms of the proposals for regeneration in future that emanate from that work. So, that's something that we can do here within our powers.
Diolch yn fawr. Childcare costs are too high in Wales, and we want to put more money back into families' pockets, and our actions in these first 100 days now are focused on putting the right foundations in place, with the governance, the infrastructure and the workforce that we need to expand childcare in the right way and maintain high-quality provision.
Yesterday, I announced the establishment and membership of our new childcare expert steering group, which is one of the commitments that we said we'd do in our first 100 days, and, as I said, I'll be co-chairing the first meeting of that expert steering group later this month.
The group will be absolutely key in delivering the transformational change this Government has promised, and the group's central mission will be to establish that phased delivery of our childcare offer, with workforce planning, with improving access and streamlining application as its clear priorities. Of course, that will operate alongside the Welsh Government's childcare taskforce. They are leading delivery through a series of dedicated work streams—for example, workforce delivery models, phasing and inclusion, and the taskforce will focus on implementation, supported, then, by the external steering group's work.
WelshDeputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
Diolch yn fawr, Lywydd. Mae gofal plant yn hollbwysig—i blant, i deuluoedd ac i Gymru. Dwi'n ddiolchgar am y cyfle i ymateb i'r drafodaeth hon heddiw, achos bod teuluoedd yng Nghymru yn talu'r costau gofal plant uchaf yn y Deyrnas Gyfunol. Maen nhw wedi cael eu gadael i lawr gan y Llywodraeth Lafur flaenorol, a oedd yn fodlon i'r sefyllfa honno barhau. Yn hanesyddol, dyw gofal plant ddim wedi cael y sylw na’r adnoddau sydd eu hangen, ac mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn benderfynol o newid hynny.
Official English translation
Thank you very much, Llywydd. Childcare is vital—for children, for families and for Wales. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to respond to this discussion today, because families in Wales are paying the highest childcare costs in the United Kingdom. They have been let down by the previous Labour Government, which was content for that situation to continue. Historically, childcare hasn't received the attention or resources that are needed, and this Government is determined to change that.
It is notable, of all the political parties represented here today, that only Reform chose not to make any commitments on childcare at all in their manifesto, despite the clear evidence of its importance to children and families. We had rather a confused response, I'm afraid, from them today to this question. They obviously haven't really thought about it much, as it wasn't in their manifesto.
We heard Dan Thomas talking about the importance of growing the economy. This measure will absolutely help to grow the economy. Studies have shown that it'll more than pay for itself when people are allowed to earn more, can increase their hours. Obviously, there's the educational attainment as well of children, who are going to be better prepared going into school—that level playing field made right for them, those children in poverty, through early-years education and support. They will be able to earn more in the long run. We know it counts for education gaps.
And then we had a lot of stuff around—. I don't know whether you want us to have a plan or don't want us to have a plan. You couldn't seem to make your mind up. But you kept on saying we have to have data, we have to have a solid plan, we need mechanisms. That's exactly the work we're doing. We are not jumping off a cliff like your party did during Brexit and saying, 'All will be well.' What we are saying is we need a plan. We are having experts to help us phase this. But we know what the initial phase looks like.
I just want to address Members on the Labour benches, who, as my colleague Alun Cox said, should really think carefully if they want to align with a party that has no intention of supporting families, and is instead pursuing a political stunt. Or do they want to take a constructive approach? I've worked with many of you in the last Senedd. I know that many of you understand the social value of childcare. Will you work with the Government to deliver this sustainable expansion of childcare? The approach we are taking is one that is evidence based and expert led. It is being guided by our new expert steering group, exactly as we set out in our first 100 days plan.
Well, for the reasons that I've set out, basically. What we need to do—. We will, before long, be having—. I'm having conversations with the finance Minister about the realignment of the budget in this financial year, to align with the priorities that all Ministers have, all the things that we were elected to do. As is set out in our amendment, there will be information brought to the Senedd around that, around the initial phasing and costings of that first phase of expansion. So you will have that information.
As a Government, we are really committed to providing an update on those initial costings and that phased roll-out of universal childcare, in line with the commitment we will make in that plan. We are fixing the failures of the previous Government. I agree with Jane Dodds here. We were sorely disappointed, weren't we? It was something you had an agreement with the Labour Party on, it was something that we had an agreement with the previous Labour Government on through the co-operation agreement. We didn't see focus, we didn't see funding, we didn't see enough progress, but we're going to put that right. Because families are navigating rising costs, they're changing working patterns, increasing pressures on their time. For many, access to affordable, high-quality childcare isn't just a question of convenience, it's the difference between being able to work, to train or to provide stability and opportunity for their children.
Gwella mynediad at ofal plant yw un o'r ffyrdd mwyaf effeithiol o leihau tlodi plant yng Nghymru. Mae'n helpu rhieni i ddychwelyd i'w gwaith, mae'n rhoi'r incwm yna i deuluoedd. Mae'r dystiolaeth yn glir, gan gyrff fel Sefydliad Bevan, Quorum a Rhwydwaith Cydraddoldeb Menywod Cymru, bod buddsoddi mewn gofal plant yn cefnogi cael rhieni i waith, yn codi incwm, ac yn rhoi'r dechrau gorau posibl mewn bywyd i blant.
Mae Sefydliad Bevan yn nodi bod system gofal plant sydd wedi'i chynllunio'n dda ac hefyd yn gweithio'n dda yn adnodd allweddol wrth fynd i'r afael â thlodi ac anghydraddoldeb. Buddsoddi mewn gofal plant a darpariaeth y blynyddoedd cynnar yw un o'r buddsoddiadau economaidd mwyaf cadarn y gall Llywodraeth ei wneud. Mae'r gwaith ymchwil yna, gan gynnwys ymchwil gan y New Economics Foundation, yn dangos bod y buddsoddi yma yn y blynyddoedd cynnar yn arwain at enillion hirdymor sylweddol—canran o 13 y cant yw'r amcangyfrif—drwy gefnogi rhieni, yn enwedig mamau, fel y clywon ni mor bwerus gan Kiera Marshall, i fynd yn ôl i'r gwaith, cynyddu gweithgarwch economaidd a chynhyrchiant.
Rŷn ni wedi clywed yn uniongyrchol gan rieni sydd eisiau dychwelyd i'r gwaith ond sydd methu â dod o hyd i ddarpariaeth fforddiadwy. Rŷn ni wedi clywed gan ddarparwyr sydd ag ymrwymiad dwfn i'w cymunedau, sy'n parhau i gynnig darpariaeth o ansawdd ledled Cymru. Mae gwella mynediad, felly, yn hanfodol o safbwynt hyrwyddo cydraddoldeb rhwng y rhywiau. Mae tystiolaeth gan Rwydwaith Cydraddoldeb Menywod Cymru yn dangos mai menywod sy'n ysgwyddo rhan fwyaf o ofal plant di-dâl—tua 45 awr yr wythnos ar gyfartaledd.
Official English translation
Improving access to childcare is one of the most effective ways of reducing child poverty. It helps parents to return to work, it gives that income to families. The evidence is clear, from bodies such as the Bevan Foundation, Quorum and the Women's Equality Network Wales, that investing in childcare supports getting parents back into work, it raises income, and provides that best possible start in life for children.
The Bevan Foundation notes that a childcare system that is well planned and works well is a key resource in tackling poverty and inequality. Investing in childcare and early years provision is one of the most robust economic investments that a Government can make. That research work, including research by the New Economics Foundation, shows that this investment in the early years leads to long-term significant gains—around 13 per cent is the estimate—by supporting parents, especially mothers, as we heard from Kiera Marshall, to return to the workplace, to increase economic activity and productivity.
We've heard directly from parents who want to return to the workplace but who cannot find affordable provision. We've heard from providers who have a deep commitment to their communities, who continue to provide high-quality provision across Wales. Improving access, therefore, is crucial from the point of view of promoting gender equality. Evidence from Women's Equality Network Wales shows that it's women who shoulder the majority of unpaid caring responsibilities—around 45 hours a week on average.
So, we're clear about our ambition, but it's not a small adjustment. It delivers a fundamental shift in how childcare is accessed and delivered. And so our focus is firmly on putting the plans we have into action as quickly as possible. That's why I've established this new expert steering group, which I will personally chair, bringing together key delivery partners from across the childcare sector, local authorities, Social Care Wales, representative bodies such as Cwlwm, a consortium of five childcare and play providers, alongside academic expertise from London Economics. The group will support the delivery, therefore, of this offer, drawing on practical insight from those working across the sector. So, we're going to drive this progress towards the broader childcare expansion. I'm clear also, of course, that Welsh-medium childcare must form a part of that ambition in every part of Wales.
The foundation of the expansion is the workforce, the dedicated professionals whose skill, care and commitment support children's development. And we are taking action to understand the workforce required to deliver this expansion in a phased way and to support, then, the growth in capacity and skills across the sector. And my officials are working with economists and partners to ensure we have that clear, evidence-based understanding of future need and the options, then, to meet it.
We will also ensure the sector is an attractive and sustainable place to work, with the right skills, support and progression in place to grow the workforce. So, this is why we are combining ambition with a clear focus on delivery. I will be updating the Senedd regularly as we deliver on this commitment. As this work progresses, this is a responsible and deliverable approach to a transformational system change on this scale. Llywydd, this Government is ambitious, and we are taking the practical steps needed to make our childcare offer a reality. We will work openly, collaboratively, as this programme develops, keeping the needs of children and families at its heart.
WelshDeputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
Diolch yn fawr, Lywydd, a diolch am y cyfle i ymateb i'r cynnig hwn, i'r ddadl fer hon. Mae hwn yn fater pwysig a sensitif. Mae'n ymwneud â hawliau menywod, ac mae hefyd yn ymwneud â hawliau pobl draws, ac mae cyfrifoldeb ar y Llywodraeth i gymhwyso'r gyfraith yn deg, yn ofalus ac mewn ffordd garedig.
Gadewch i mi fod yn glir o'r dechrau: mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn parhau i fod yn gwbl gadarn yn ein hymrwymiad i fod yn gynhwysol. Dydy geiriad a dehongliad Deddf Cydraddoldeb 2010 ddim yn fater sydd wedi'i ddatganoli, ond bydd canlyniadau'r dyfarniad hwn yn effeithio ar wasanaethau datganoledig yma yng Nghymru. Er mwyn gweithredu'r dyfarniad a'r cod ymarfer yn ymarferol, bydd angen arweinyddiaeth gan wasanaethau cyhoeddus Cymru a Llywodraeth Cymru.
Rhaid i ni wneud yn siŵr bod y gyfraith yn cael ei chymhwyso'n gyson ac mewn ffordd sy'n adlewyrchu ein dyletswyddau cyfreithiol a'n gwerthoedd ni yma yng Nghymru. Rydyn ni'n parchu dyfarniad y Goruchaf Lys, ond dyw eglurder cyfreithiol ar bapur ddim yn ddigon ar ei ben ei hunan i roi eglurder yn ymarferol. Mae angen crebwyll, mae angen tystiolaeth ac mae angen gofal. Mae angen i bob corff a darparwr gwasanaeth ledled Cymru sicrhau eu bod nhw'n cydymffurfio â'r gyfraith, ac rŷn ni wrthi yn adolygu'r polisïau, y canllawiau a'r trefniadau gweithredu a allai gael eu heffeithio ac yn ceisio sicrhau bod penderfyniadau'n gyfreithlon.
Rwyf hefyd eisiau bod yn hollol glir am yr hyn nad yw dyfarniad y Goruchaf Lys fis Ebrill diwethaf yn ei wneud. Dyw e ddim yn lleihau'r amddiffyniad presennol i bobl draws sydd â nodwedd warchodedig o ailbennu rhywedd o dan Ddeddf Cydraddoldeb 2010. Mae pobl draws yn rhan werthfawr o'n cymunedau ni yng Nghymru ac yn parhau, felly, i gael eu hamddiffyn yn y gyfraith rhag dioddef gwahaniaethu ac aflonyddu. Mae hynny'n golygu bod gwahaniaethu, aflonyddu ac erledigaeth oherwydd bod gan berson y nodwedd warchodedig honno yn anghyfreithlon oni bai fod eithriad penodol yn berthnasol, ac mae'r cod drafft yn dweud y dylid dehongli'r eithriadau mewn ffordd gyfyngedig.
Dyna pam mae'r ffordd y caiff hyn ei weithredu mor bwysig. Mae gan fenywod hawl i ddisgwyl y bydd eu hawliau ar sail rhyw yn cael eu cynnal lle mae'r gyfraith yn darparu ar eu cyfer, gan gynnwys mewn perthynas ag urddas, preifatrwydd a diogelwch. Mae gan bobl draws hawl i ddisgwyl eu bod nhw'n parhau i gael eu hamddiffyn rhag dioddef gwahaniaethu ac aflonyddu, ac i wybod na fydd gweithredu'r dyfarniad yn dod yn esgus ar gyfer gwahardd, diffyg parch neu driniaeth annheg.
Fel y Gweinidog Cabinet dros Gyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a Chydraddoldeb, rwyf felly am roi neges glir ein bod ni fel Llywodraeth yn rhannu pryderon y ddau grŵp yma ac eisiau gweithio gyda'r ddau er mwyn ffeindio'n ffordd ni drwy oblygiadau ymarferol dyfarniad y Goruchaf Lys. Mae'r cydbwysedd hwnnw yn bwysig, ac mae cyfrifoldeb ar y Llywodraeth i ymdrin â hyn o ddifri, yn gyfreithlon ac yn ofalus.
Bydd cod ymarfer y Comisiwn Cydraddoldeb a Hawliau Dynol yn chwarae rôl bwysig wrth helpu i sefydlu, dehongli a chymhwyso'r gyfraith. Mae angen eglurder ar gyrff cyhoeddus a darparwyr gwasanaethau ac maen nhw angen sylfaen gadarn i wneud penderfyniadau a fydd yn gallu cael eu gweithredu yn ymarferol. Mae asesiad o'r effaith ar gydraddoldeb a wnaed gan Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Gyfunol yn dangos yn glir bod y dyfarniad o bosib yn mynd i gael effaith negyddol ar bobl sy'n cael eu diogelu ar sail ailbennu rhywedd. Mae hefyd yn rhybuddio y gallai newidiadau i'r cod yn dilyn dyfarniad y Goruchaf Lys gael effeithiau ehangach, gan gynnwys effeithio ar bobl anabl ac ar fenywod, ac mae asesiad effaith cam terfynol Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Gyfunol yn gwneud pwynt pwysig arall: bydd cost ariannol i'r gweithredu. Mae'n nodi costau sylweddol ledled y Deyrnas Gyfunol a Gogledd Iwerddon, wedi eu gyrru'n bennaf gan newidiadau i gyfleusterau. Ac o ran Cymru, does dim amcangyfrif ariannol o'r goblygiadau i wasanaethau cyhoeddus Cymru nac i Lywodraeth Cymru ei hun, ac nid peth bach yw hynny. Rhaid i Gymru gydymffurfio â'r dyfarniad, sydd â goblygiadau gweithredol ac ariannol sylweddol i wasanaethau ac i fusnesau yng Nghymru, heb ddarlun clir o'r costau o wneud hynny. Felly, mae'n rhaid i ni symud ymlaen yn ofalus, mae'n rhaid i ni symud ymlaen mewn ffordd gyfreithlon, ac mae'n rhaid i ni symud ymlaen mewn ffordd sy'n ymarferol i'r gwasanaethau mae pobl yn dibynnu arnyn nhw bob dydd.
Er bod cydymffurfiaeth gyfreithiol yn hanfodol, rhaid i'n hymateb hefyd ystyried ein dyletswyddau cydraddoldeb yn y sector cyhoeddus, ein hymrwymiad i urddas, a'n cyfrifoldeb i sicrhau bod yr hyn sy'n cael ei benderfynu mewn egwyddor yn gallu gweithio yn ymarferol mewn ysgolion, mewn ysbytai, mewn cyfleusterau hamdden, ar draws gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Felly, ydy, mae'r Goruchaf Lys wedi egluro'r sefyllfa gyfreithiol, ond dwi'n meddwl bod y prawf go iawn i ddod nawr. Y prawf go iawn bydd gweithredu'r gyfraith gyda sensitifrwydd, urddas a pharch i bawb, gan adlewyrchu ein gwerthoedd. A dyna'r safon y mae'n rhaid i ni ei chyrraedd, dyna'r cyfrifoldeb ar ein hysgwyddau, ac rwy'n gobeithio y gallwn ni gytuno ar draws y Siambr hon mai dyma'r ffordd i droi dyfarniad cyfreithiol yn realiti ymarferol i bawb.
Official English translation
Thank you very much, Llywydd, and thank you for the opportunity to respond to this short debate. This is an important and sensitive matter. It relates to the rights of women, and also the rights of transgender people, and the Government has a responsibility to apply the law fairly, carefully and in a kind and compassionate way.
Let me be clear from the outset: this Government continues to be robust and firm in its commitment to being inclusive. The wording and the interpretation of the Equality Act 2010 is not a devolved matter, but the results of this judgment will have an impact on devolved services here in Wales. To implement the judgment and the code of practice practically, there will be a need for leadership from public services in Wales and the Welsh Government.
We must ensure that the law is applied consistently and in a way that reflects our legal duties and our values here in Wales. We respect the judgment of the Supreme Court, but legal clarity on paper is not enough in and of itself to provide clarity in practical terms. We need judgment, we need evidence and we need care. Every body and provider of services across Wales needs to ensure that they are complying with the law, and we are reviewing the policies, the guidelines and the operational arrangements that could be affected and are trying to ensure that decisions are lawful.
I also want to be entirely clear about what the Supreme Court judgment last April doesn't do. It doesn't reduce the current protections for transgender people with the protected characteristic of gender reassignment under the Equality Act 2010. Transgender people are a valuable part of our communities in Wales and they continue to be protected by law from suffering discrimination and harassment. This means that discrimination, harassment and persecution because a person has that protected characteristic is unlawful unless there is a specific exception applicable, and the draft code states that those exceptions should be interpreted in a very limited way.
That's why the way that this is implemented is so important. Women have a right to expect that their rights based on sex will be upheld where the law provides for them, including in relation to dignity, privacy and safety. Transgender people have the right to expect to continue to be protected from suffering harassment and discrimination, and to know that the implementation of the judgment won't become an excuse for exclusion, lack of respect or unfair treatment.
As the Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality, I therefore want to share a clear message that we as a Government share the concerns of these two groups and we want to work with both to find our way through the practical implications of the Supreme Court judgment. That balance is important, and the Government has a responsibility to respond to this seriously, lawfully and carefully.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission's code of practice will play an important role in helping to establish, interpret and apply the law. Public bodies and providers of services need clarity and they need a robust basis on which to make decisions that can be implemented in practical terms. The equality impact assessment undertaken by the UK Government demonstrates clearly that this judgment potentially will have a negative impact on people who are protected on the basis of gender reassignment. It also warns that changes to the code as a result of the Supreme Court judgment could have a wider impact, including effects on disabled people and on women, and the final stage impact assessment of the UK Government makes an important additional point: there will be a financial cost to the implementation. It notes significant costs across the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, driven primarily by changes to facilities. In terms of Wales, there is no financial estimate of the implications for public services in Wales nor for the Welsh Government itself, and that's not a small matter. Wales has to comply with the judgment, which has significant operational and financial implications for services and for businesses in Wales, without a clear picture of the costs of doing so. So, we need to progress carefully, we need to progress lawfully and we need to make progress in a way that is practicable for the services that people depend on every day.
Although compliance with the law is crucial, our response also has to consider our equality duties in the public sector, our commitment to dignity, and our responsibility to ensure that what is decided in principle can work in practice in schools, in hospitals, in leisure facilities, across public services. So, yes, the Supreme Court has clarified the legal situation, but I think the real test is to come now. The real test is to implement the law with sensitivity, with dignity and respect for everyone, reflecting our values. And that's the standard that we must reach, that's the responsibility on our shoulders, and I hope that we can agree across this Chamber that this is the way to turn the legal judgment into a practical reality for everyone.