Siân Gwenllian

Open this sitting on the stage

1. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Prynhawn da. Rydyn ni'n credu y dylai cartrefi fodloni'r safonau disgwyliedig, fod yn ddiogel ac o ansawdd da ar y diwrnod y mae unigolion neu deuluoedd yn symud i'w cartref newydd. Rhaid i berchnogion tai allu cael mynediad at drefniadau effeithiol a syml. Os oes angen datrys problem, rhaid i ddatblygwyr, darparwyr gwarant, asiantau rheoli a chwmnïau rheoli i gyd chwarae eu rhan i fod yn atebol am eu gwasanaethau.

   Official English translation

   Good afternoon. We believe that homes should meet expected standards, be safe and of good quality on the day individuals or families move into their new home. Home owners must have access to effective and straightforward redress. When action is required to remedy an issue, developers, warranty providers, managing agents and management companies must all play their part in being accountable for their services.

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2. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Diolch yn fawr am dynnu sylw at y mater pwysig yma. Hoffwn i ymuno efo chi yn canmol cymdeithas trigolion Swansea Point. Mi ges i'r pleser o gwrdd ag un o'u cynrychiolwyr nhw bythefnos yn ôl, a dwi'n cofio yn glir ei ddisgrifiad o o'r straen a'r sefyllfa hynod rwystredig mae lesddeiliaid Swansea Point wedi profi ers rhagor na 18 mis. Diolch hefyd am groesawu grant larymau mesur interim Cymru. Roeddwn i'n falch o allu cynnig rhywfaint o gysur o leiaf i'r cynrychiolydd o Swansea Point a ddaeth i mewn i'n gweld ni—rhywfaint o gysur iddo fo a lesddeiliaid eraill Swansea Point a rheini ledled Cymru sy'n wynebu biliau echrydus am fesurau interim tra bod gwaith cyweirio rhag tân yn cael ei wneud. Mae'r grant ar agor i geisiadau, felly dwi'n annog pobl i edrych ar hynny. O ran eich cwestiwn pwysig am atebolrwydd datblygwyr yn yr holl faes diogelwch adeiladau, mi wnes i gwrdd efo nhw i gyd, yr holl ddatblygwyr sydd wedi arwyddo contract Llywodraeth Cymru. Mi wnes i gyfarfod â nhw bythefnos yn ôl. Roeddwn i'n hollol glir efo nhw yn y cyfarfod yna bod angen cyflymu'r gwaith cyweirio. Mi wnes i eu rhybuddio nhw yn y cyfarfod hwnnw y byddwn i'n rhoi adroddiad cynnydd i chi yma yn y Senedd yn y flwyddyn newydd. Dwi'n edrych ymlaen at gael yr adroddiad cynnydd yna. Mi fydda i'n fwy na pharod i enwi unrhyw ddatblygwyr sydd ddim yn gwneud eu dyletswydd i gyweirio yn unol â'r contract, yn unol â'r disgwyliad bod y gwaith yn dechrau cyn diwedd y flwyddyn yma. Os nad ydyn nhw wedi cyrraedd y sefyllfa yna, mi fydd yn rhaid i fi enwi pobl yn y Siambr yn fan hyn.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much for highlighting this important issue. I would like to join you in praising the Swansea Point residents association. I had the pleasure of meeting one of their representatives a fortnight ago and I clearly remember his description of the stress and huge frustration that Swansea Point leaseholders have experienced over a period of more than 18 months. Thank you also for welcoming the Wales interim measures alarm grant. I was pleased to be able to provide some comfort to the representative of Swansea Point who came to see us—some comfort for him and other leaseholders in Swansea Point and those across Wales who are facing appallingly high bills for interim measures while remediation work is done. The grant is open for application, so I would encourage people to look at that. In terms of your important question on the accountability of developers in this whole area of building safety, I did meet them all, all of the developers who have signed the Welsh Government contract. I met them a fortnight ago. I was entirely clear with them in that meeting that we needed to accelerate the remediation work. I warned them at that meeting that I would provide a progress report to you here in the Senedd in the new year. I look forward to receiving that progress report. I will be more than willing to name any developers who aren't acting under their duties to remediate in accordance with the expectation of the contract, and the expectation that the work should start before the end of this year. If they haven't reached that position, then I will have to name people in this Chamber.

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3. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Diolch yn fawr iawn. Dydw i ddim yn gyfarwydd â'r enghraifft benodol yna, ond mae 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru' yn nodi y dylai awdurdodau cynllunio lleol gynllunio ar gyfer darparu'r seilwaith sydd ei angen i ddiwallu anghenion cymunedau pan fydd datblygiadau tai newydd yn cael eu hystyried. Felly, mae hi yn ofyniad ar awdurdodau lleol i edrych ar y seilwaith. Mae seilwaith digonol ac effeithlon, gan gynnwys y mathau o bethau rydych chi'n sôn amdanyn nhw, yn hanfodol i ddarparu datblygiadau tai newydd sydd yn diwallu'r anghenion ar gyfer y preswylwyr presennol, a hefyd i'r dyfodol.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much. I'm not familiar with that specific example, but 'Planning Policy Wales' does set out that local planning authorities should plan for the infrastructure needed to meet the needs of communities when new housing developments are considered. So, it is a requirement for local authorities to look at the infrastructure. Adequate and efficient infrastructure, including the types of things that you have mentioned, is crucial in providing new housing developments that meet the needs of current and future residents.

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4. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiwn yna a diolch yn fawr iawn i chi am y gwaith rydych chi'n ei wneud ac yn parhau i wneud yn eich etholaeth chi. Dwi'n gyfarwydd, fel Aelod lleol, â'r math yma o sefyllfa hefyd, o ran y datblygiadau yma ddim yn cael eu cwblhau'n briodol, ac yn enwedig y mater yma o lonydd ddim yn cael eu mabwysiadu'n iawn a'r gwaith ddim yn cael ei orffen ar amser, ac weithiau ddim yn cael ei orffen i'r safon angenrheidiol chwaith. Mae'r Llywodraeth yma yn awyddus iawn i weithio efo chi ac efo Aelodau eraill i geisio mynd i'r afael â'r broblem yma. Yn sicr, mi fyddwn i'n hoffi cael sgwrs efo chi ymhellach, i weld os oes gennych chi syniadau penodol ynglŷn â sut i gael y maen i'r wal yn gynt yn yr achosion yma.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much for that question, and thank you very much to you for the work that you have done and continue to do in your constituency. I'm familiar, as a local Member, with this kind of scenario too, in terms of these developments not being appropriately completed, and particularly this issue of roads not being properly adopted and the work not being completed on time, and sometimes not being completed to the required standards either. This Government is very eager to work with you and other Members in order to try and address this problem. Certainly, I would like to have a further conversation with you, to see if you have any specific ideas as to how we achieve our objectives more quickly in this area.

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5. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Diolch am y cwestiwn. Rydyn ni’n cefnogi aelwydydd ledled Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr i wella perfformiad eu cartrefi o ran ynni, gwella safonau byw, mynd i'r afael â thlodi tanwydd a lleihau allyriadau carbon. Dwi wedi dyrannu £17 miliwn o gyllid ychwanegol yn ystod y flwyddyn yma i hybu hyn ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys o leiaf £1.6 miliwn o fuddsoddiad yn eich etholaeth chi.

   Official English translation

   Thank you for the question. We are supporting households across Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr to improve their home's performance in terms of energy, to improve living standards, to tackle fuel poverty and to reduce carbon emissions. I have allocated £17 million of additional in-year funding to boost delivery of this across Wales, including an investment of at least £1.6 million in your constituency.

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6. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Diolch yn fawr iawn am amlinellu mwy am eich cwestiwn yn y fanna. Tra bod rhai o'r cynlluniau sydd yn bodoli'n barod wedi dod â rhai deilliannau positif—rydym ni i gyd yn gwybod am rai enghreifftiau da lle mae cynlluniau ynni effeithiol wedi creu gwahaniaeth mawr ac wedi llwyddo i ddod â biliau i lawr i bobl—mae yna lot mwy i wneud, ac mae yna ormod o dai yn parhau i fod yn aneffeithiol ac felly efo biliau sydd yn llawer iawn rhy uchel. Mewn argyfwng costau byw, mae'n hollbwysig ein bod ni'n rhoi sylw penodol i hynny i gyd. Ar hyn o bryd, efallai nad ydy pobl yn hollol siŵr pa ddulliau o wella effeithlonrwydd yn eu cartrefi nhw sydd orau ar gyfer eu cartrefi nhw. Dŷn nhw ddim yn gwybod lle i fynd i gael cyllid na pha gontractwyr i ddefnyddio yn lleol chwaith. Ond dwi yn benderfynol o gael gwared ar y rhwystrau yma, fel bod pobl yn teimlo eu bod nhw'n hyderus i fedru buddsoddi mewn uwchraddio eu cartrefi i fod yn llawer mwy effeithiol o ran ynni, tra hefyd, wrth gwrs, mae yna gynlluniau ar gyfer cartrefi sydd ar incwm isel. Mae cartrefi Nyth, Nest, wedi profi'n llwyddiannus yn hynny o beth. Ond dŷch chi'n sôn am ehangu, onid ydych, i mewn i gynlluniau ar draws ardaloedd ac ar draws gwahanol denantiaethau, ac mae hwnna'n ganolog i'r gwaith dŷn ni'n ei ddatblygu rŵan o fewn y Llywodraeth. A dwi'n awyddus i'r broses orau oll ar gyfer cymunedau gael ei rhoi ar waith, a dyna pam y byddaf yn gweithio—wel, dwi yn ar hyn o bryd—efo partneriaid i fod yn meddwl ymlaen am y rhaglen sydd angen dod ymlaen. Roeddwn i'n sôn am fuddsoddiad newydd, ac yn rhan o'r buddsoddiad newydd, mae yna £4 miliwn wedi cael ei neilltuo i gefnogi cynlluniau peilot, sydd yn edrych ar fodelau ar sail ardal. Ac mae yna un yng Nghaerdydd ar hyn o bryd yn symud ymlaen. Mae ceisiadau ar agor ar gyfer y cynllun peilot yma i awdurdodau lleol, landlordiaid cymdeithasol a chyrff llywodraethu rhanbarthol. Mae'r pot yna o arian ar agor tan 14 Hydref, a dwi'n annog unrhyw sefydliad cymwys i wneud cais i gymryd rhan yn y peilot yma.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much for outlining more about your question. While some of the existing plans have brought some positive outcomes—we are all aware of some good examples of where energy efficiency plans and programmes have made a very real difference and have brought people's bills down—there is still much more to be done, and there are too many homes that continue to be energy inefficient, and therefore are paying bills that are far too high. In a cost-of-living crisis, it is crucial that we give particular attention to all of those issues. At the moment, perhaps people aren't entirely sure what energy-efficiency improvements are best for their homes. They don't know where to access funding and they don't know which contractors they should use locally either. But I am determined to remove those barriers, so that people do feel confident to invest in upgrading their homes so that they are far more energy efficient, whilst also, of course, there are plans for low-income households. The Nest programme has proved to be very successful in that regard. But you are talking about expanding that into plans across whole areas and across different tenancies, and that is central to the work that we are now developing within Government. And I am eager to get the best possible process for communities and to see that being implemented, and that's why I will be working, and I'm currently working, with partners to think ahead in terms of the programme that we need to develop. I mentioned new investment, and as part of that new investment, £4 million has been allocated to support pilot schemes that are looking at area-based models. And there is one in Cardiff at the moment, and that is progressing. Applications are available for this pilot scheme for local authorities, social landlords and regional governing bodies. That pot of funding is open until 14 October, and I would encourage any qualifying organisation to make an application to be involved in that pilot.

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7. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning en

   The priority of this Government is to ensure that people living here in Wales can access safe, affordable homes, and that goes for everybody living here in Wales. The allocations policy, the national allocations policy, is a framework set by the Welsh Government. The local policies then are set by the local authorities. We don't collect information within those regimes about people's nationalities. Houses are allocated according to need.

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8. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning en

   Why do we need to collect that data? I'm not quite sure. Because everybody in Wales deserves to have a safe, affordable home, and that includes social housing as well as other forms of housing. So, I really don't see why we need to collect information around what you call 'foreign nationals'. Now, 'foreign nationals' is a very wide-ranging term, and the vast majority of social housing tenants in Wales are UK nationals, as it happens. But, then, foreign nationals are part of our society. They're important people within our society. They're people with children. They're people working in the NHS. They're care home workers. And, of course, they are welcome here and they are contributing to our economy. I think we have very different agendas going on here, and I'm not quite sure that what you're trying to talk about is quite on the same page as I am. Absolutely, it's not on the same page.

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9. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning en

   The problem is a fundamental one. We don't have enough social housing in Wales. We don't have enough to meet the demand, to meet the need that there is—absolutely, obviously, there is not enough there available. The queue is way too long for social housing, and creating division amongst people who are in the queue, which is exactly what you are doing, is not the way forward. The way forward is to build more social homes. And that is why this Government has a relentless focus on building and creating 20,000 new social homes before the end of this Senedd term.

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10. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiwn. A dwi’n cofio pan ddaeth y cynllun yma i mewn, ac, ar y pryd, roedd o’n cael ei ddisgrifio fel cynllun pum mlynedd a oedd efo pwrpas penodol o fedru dod â mwy o dai i fyny i safon fel eu bod nhw’n gallu cael eu defnyddio i helpu efo’r sefyllfa ddigartrefedd. Mae’r cynllun i ddod i ben yn fuan, ond mae’r eiddo sydd o fewn y cynllun yna’n barod a’r ceisiadau sydd o fewn y pipeline yna yn dal i fodoli. Y gwir amdani ydy bod y cynllun yna wedi dod â phwrpas iddo fo, ac o fewn y cyfyngiadau ariannol y mae’r Llywodraeth yma’n eu hwynebu, mae o’n un o’r pethau dŷn ni’n edrych arno fo o ddifrif rŵan, ynglŷn â dyfodol y cynllun.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much for that question. And I do recall when this plan was introduced, and, at the time, it was described as a five-year programme that had a specific purpose of bringing more houses up to standard so that they could be used to alleviate homelessness.  The scheme is to come to an end soon, but the properties that are within the scheme already and the applications in that pipeline will still exist. The truth is that that scheme had a particular purpose, and within the financial restrictions that this Government is facing, it is one of the things we are looking at now in earnest, in terms of the scheme's future.

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11. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiwn yna. Fel mae'n digwydd, dwi'n mynd i fod yn cyhoeddi yfory gyllid ychwanegol ar gyfer nifer o drefi, ac un ddinas, yng Nghymru o dan gyllid Transforming Towns. Felly, mae'r cyllid yna wedi bod yn fodd arbennig o effeithiol o fedru caniatáu i drefi a dinasoedd wella canol eu trefi. Ar hyn o bryd, dŷn ni wedi, fel dŷch chi'n gwybod, sefydlu'r tasglu sydd yn edrych ar bob agwedd o'r hyn sydd angen ei wneud wrth inni ailddychmygu canol ein trefi. Roeddech chi'n gofyn beth fydd cwmpas gwaith y tasglu. Bydd y tasglu yn edrych ar bopeth, yn mynd ar draws ffiniau traddodiadol, efallai, ond yn dod â phopeth at ei gilydd, o ran cynllunio, o ran trethi busnes, o ran canfod cyfalaf ychwanegol—yr holl faterion yna. Mae'r tasglu wedi cyfarfod. Mi wnes i fynd atyn nhw ar ddechrau eu cyfarfod nhw yr wythnos diwethaf. Yr adborth dwi wedi ei gael o'r cyfarfod yna ydy eu bod nhw wedi bod wrthi drwy'r dydd yn adnabod y themâu pwysig yma sydd angen eu rhoi ar waith. Fy neges i ar ddechrau eu cyfarfod nhw oedd hyn: dwi ddim eisiau i chi ddisgrifio'r broblem i fi, dwi ishio ichi ddod â datrysiadau. Dwi ishio ichi ddod ag argymhellion clir ymlaen o beth fedrwn ni ei wneud fel Llywodraeth yng Nghymru. Mae rhai materion—yn ymwneud efo'r economi ac ati—y tu hwnt i'n gallu ymarferol ni yn fan hyn. Felly, roeddwn i'n rhoi'r pwyslais yn glir ar beth fedrwn ni ei wneud yng Nghymru i wella'r ffordd y mae canol ein trefi ni'n datblygu ac i roi bywyd newydd iddyn nhw.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much for that question. As it happens, I will be announcing additional funding tomorrow for a number of towns, and one city, in Wales under the Transforming Towns funding. So, that funding has been a very effective means of allowing towns and cities to improve their town centres. At the moment, as you know, we have established a taskforce, which is looking at all aspects of what needs to be done as we reimagine our town centres. You were asking what the purpose of the taskforce will be. It will look at everything, across traditional boundaries, perhaps, but will draw everything together, in terms of planning, in terms of business rates, in terms of finding additional capital—all of those issues. The taskforce has met. I joined them at the beginning of their meeting last week. The feedback that I've had from that meeting was that they had been working all day identifying these important themes that need to be addressed. My message at the beginning of their meeting was this: I don't want you to describe the problem to me, I want you to find solutions. I want clear recommendations in terms of what we as a Government in Wales can do. There are certain issues—related to the economy and so on—that are beyond our practical powers here. So, I placed a clear emphasis on what we in Wales can do in order to improve the way that our town centres develop and to give them new life.

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12. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch am y cwestiwn. Yn ein rhaglen lywodraethu ni, fe welwch chi fod yna ymrwymiad yn y fan yna i ddiwygio'r system gynllunio, i wneud y system gynllunio yn fwy atebol i gymunedau, a hefyd i weld sut y medrwn ni gyflymu'r broses o ganiatâd cynllunio a thynnu rhai o'r rhwystrau oddi yno. Felly, mae cynllunio yn faes allweddol, a dŷn ni'n cydnabod bod ganddo fo rôl allweddol o ran cyflawni nifer o bolisïau eraill—tai yn enwedig. Ond hefyd, mae cynllunio yn medru ein helpu ni i fynd i'r afael â gwrthdaro rhwng polisïau, lle mae'n codi. Felly, dwi'n grediniol fod angen i ni roi sylw penodol i hyn. Dwi wedi cyhoeddi yr wythnos diwethaf ein bod ni'n ymgynghori ar y fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol. O dan hwnna mae 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru' yn gorwedd. Mi fyddaf i hefyd yn gwneud galwad am dystiolaeth o gwmpas sut y medrwn ni'n wirioneddol symud ymlaen efo'r hyn rydyn ni'n cytuno efo'n gilydd arno fo, sef yr angen i ddiwygio ymhellach y system gynllunio. Mi fyddwn i wrth fy modd petaech chi yn dod â rhai o'ch syniadau ymlaen, o gwmpas 106, yn sicr, ond am faterion eraill hefyd. Dwi'n annog pawb yn y Siambr yma sydd efo syniadau ar sut i wneud y system yn fwy atebol i ddod â syniadau ymlaen.

    Official English translation

    Thank you for the question. In our programme for government, you will see that there is a clear commitment there to reform the planning system, to make the planning system more accountable to communities, and also to see how we can accelerate the process of providing planning consents and removing some of the barriers from the system. So, planning is a key area, and we recognise that it has a key role in delivering many other policies, particularly in the field of housing. But planning can also assist us in tackling conflict between policies, where those issues arise. Therefore, I am convinced that we need to give particular attention to this. I did announce last week that we would be consulting on the national development framework. 'Planning Policy Wales' sits under that. I will also be making a call for evidence around how we can make meaningful progress with what we all agree on, namely the need to further reform the planning system. I would be delighted if you were to bring some of your own ideas forward, around 106 issues, certainly, but on other issues too. I encourage everyone in this Chamber who has ideas as to how we can make the system more accountable to bring their ideas forward.

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13. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch i chi am y cwestiwn. Dwi am gymryd y cyfle i ddiolch unwaith eto i'n diffoddwyr tân ni, i'r heddlu, Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, cymunedau a'r asiantaethau i gyd a wnaeth weithio mor, mor galed yn ystod y tanau gwyllt dros yr haf. Cefais i gyfle i fynd yn uniongyrchol i sefyllfa anodd iawn, iawn a gweld y diffoddwyr tân wrthi mewn amgylchiadau anodd iawn yn ceisio diffodd y fflamau. Rydych chi'n hollol iawn, mae'r gwaith ataliol sydd yn digwydd drwy'r gwasanaethau tân ac achub yn holl, holl bwysig. Maen nhw'n mynd i mewn i'n hysgolion ni ac mae ganddyn nhw wasanaeth cymunedol. Nid Llywodraeth Cymru sy'n ariannu'r gwasanaeth tân ac achub, wrth gwrs. Jest i'ch atgoffa chi, ar 22 Hydref, bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cynnal uwchgynhadledd, summit, am y tanau gwyllt. Bydd y Prif Weinidog yn cadeirio hwnnw ac mi fyddaf i a'r Gweinidogion eraill a fuodd ynghlwm wrth yr holl danau gwyllt dros yr haf yn rhan o'r summit yna. Yn sicr, mae yna themâu pwysig i'w trafod yn sgil y tanau a ddigwyddodd. Mae angen cynllunio yn ofalus ar gyfer y ffordd ymlaen, gan gynnwys y ffordd ymlaen ar gyfer y gwasanaethau tân ac achub. Diolch.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much for that question. I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank our firefighters, the police force, NRW, our communities and all of the agencies that worked so very hard during those wildfires over the summer months. I had an opportunity to go directly to a very difficult situation and saw the firefighters working in very difficult circumstances to try to extinguish those flames. You're entirely right that the preventative work that happens through the fire and rescue services is crucially important. They go into our schools and they have a community service. The Welsh Government doesn't fund the fire and rescue service, of course. Just to remind you, on 22 October, the Welsh Government will hold a summit on wildfires. The First Minister will chair that event, and I and other Ministers who were involved with the whole issue of wildfires over the summer will be part of that summit. Certainly, there are important themes to discuss in light of the fires that did happen over the summer. We need to plan carefully for the future, including a way forward for the fire and rescue services. Thank you.

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14. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Dwi wedi ymrwymo i ymgysylltu'n fwy effeithlon â'r gymuned am y broses cynlluniau datblygu lleol. Mi fyddaf i’n dechrau sgwrs cyn hir ar sut i ailddychmygu cynlluniau datblygu lleol fel eu bod nhw'n adlewyrchu dyheadau ein cymunedau'n well. Fe fydd ymgynghoriad ar opsiynau a chynigion ar gyfer newid yn dilyn maes o law.

    Official English translation

    I am committed to engaging more efficiently with the community regarding the LDP process. I will be starting a conversation soon on how LDPs can be reimagined to better reflect the aspirations of our communities. A consultation on options and proposals for change will follow in due course.

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15. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi, Marc, ac i Carrie Harper sy'n eistedd drws nesaf i chi. Dwi'n gwybod am y gwaith pwysig wnaethoch chi ei wneud yn ystod yn cyfnod yna, a ddylai neb, byth eto, fod yn wynebu carchar ac yn wynebu'r math yna o sefyllfa am fod yn llais i ddemocratiaeth yn lleol. Felly, dwi'n gobeithio eich bod chi'n cymryd hynny a bod pawb yn deall pwysigrwydd y neges yna. Mae hi'n bwysig, wrth i'r LDP newydd gael ei chreu, bod gwersi o'r profiad blaenorol yn cael eu dysgu, gan adeiladu ar yr hyn wnaeth weithio ac yn edrych yn benodol ynglŷn â beth wnaeth ddim gweithio fel bod y plan newydd yn ennyn mwy o gefnogaeth a mwy o hyder ymhlith y cymunedau, ac yn rhoi sylfaen gref ar gyfer dyfodol Wrecsam. Gan fod gen i bwerau o fewn y broses LDP, fedraf i ddim cymryd rhan uniongyrchol yn y broses o ddatblygu'r cynllun newydd yma, ond dwi'n hapus i roi cefnogaeth ymarferol i'r broses yna, a buaswn i'n hapus iawn i gyfarfod efo chi i glywed sut ydych chi'n meddwl y gall yr ymgysylltu cymunedol yna weithio. Mae'r Design Commission for Wales hefyd yn gallu bod o gymorth, ac mi fyddaf i'n cyfarfod efo nhw yr wythnos nesaf, felly mae'n siŵr bod yna syniadau yn fanna hefyd y gallwn ni eu cymryd i fyny.

    Official English translation

    I thank you, Marc, and Carrie Harper who is sitting alongside you. I know about the important work that you did in that period, and no-one should ever again face jail or that kind of situation for being a voice for local democracy. I hope that that is accepted and that everybody understands the importance of that message. It is important, as the new LDP is put together, that lessons from that previous experience are learned, building on what did work and looking specifically at what didn't work so that the new plan does gain more support and confidence in the communities and provides a firm foundation for the future of Wrexham. Given that I have powers within the LDP process, I can't take a direct role in the process of developing the new plan, but I am content to provide practical support for that process, and I would be very happy to meet with you to hear about how you think the community engagement should work. The Design Commission for Wales can also be of assistance, and I will be meeting them next week, and so there will probably be ideas there that we can explore.

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16. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning en

    Well, I'll reiterate what I said earlier, really, that the infrastructure absolutely needs to be at the heart of the planning process and in bringing LDPs together. They are a matter for the local councils, but my message is quite clear and the message in 'Planning Policy Wales' is quite clear that infrastructure around any housing developments, et cetera, have to meet that need as well.

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17. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning en

    Diolch yn fawr. Yes, your point is well made, Huw.

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18. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr iawn. Mae hi'n bwysig bod y broses o greu cynllun lleol yn cynnwys pawb, onid ydy, ac anghenion pawb o fewn y gymdeithas yna. O brofiad personol, o fod yn rhan o ddatblygu cynllun datblygu lleol yn fy mhentref i, roedd y broses o ymgysylltu efo'r gymuned gyfan a dangos i'r gymuned gyfan fod yna anghenion tai, er enghraifft, yn y gymuned honno, roedd hynny'n sicrhau bod gennym ni gynllun a oedd yn gadarn ar gyfer y dyfodol. A phan ddaeth cynlluniau tai ymlaen a oedd yn rhai cymesur—ac, wrth gwrs, dyna ydy'r broblem, onid e, dydyn nhw ddim bob tro yn gymesur—ond pan oedd cynlluniau yn dod ymlaen oedd yn gymesur efo maint y pentref ond hefyd efo'r angen lleol, doedd yna ddim cwyno amdano fo. Felly, dwi'n meddwl ei bod hi'n bwysig cynnwys pawb, gan gynnwys y lleisiau hynny sydd ddim yn cael eu clywed. Rydw i'n meddwl bod gennym ni fel cynghorwyr lleol le i arwain a bod yn llais i'r anghenion yna sydd yn aml yn cael eu hanghofio.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much. It is important that the process of creating a local plan does include everyone, isn't it, and the needs of everyone within that community. From my personal experience of being part of the development of a local development plan in my village, the process of engaging with the entire community and showing the entire community that there were housing needs, for example, within that community, that ensured that we did have a plan that was robust for the future, and when housing plans were brought forward that were proportionate—and, of course, that's the problem, isn't it, that they're not always proportionate—but when plans were brought forward that were proportionate in relation to the size of the village but also in relation to local need, there were no complaints about them. So, I do think it's important to include everyone, including those voices that are not heard, and I think we as local councillors have a role in leading and being a voice for those needs that are often forgotten.

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19. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning en

    Well, I agree with your ambition for creating a more robust and resilient rurality here in Wales. I am in active discussions with Llyr Gruffydd, the rural affairs Minister—whatever the title is now—

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20. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning en

    —and we are looking at this and are in active discussions around it.

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21. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Mae cryfhau hawliau tenantiaid yn flaenoriaeth i'r Llywodraeth yma. Mae rhentwyr yn haeddu cartref diogel, cynnes a fforddiadwy, ac fe ddylen nhw deimlo'n hyderus yn herio amodau gwael. Mae newid cadarnhaol yn gofyn am gyfraith dda, a bydd cam cyntaf ein rhaglen ddeddfwriaethol yn amddiffyn tenantiaid yn well, yn mynd i'r afael â landlordiaid gwael ac yn gwneud rhentu yn fwy diogel.

    Official English translation

    Strengthening tenants' rights is a priority for this Government. Renters deserve a safe, warm, secure and affordable home, and they should feel confident challenging poor conditions. Positive change requires good law, and the first phase of our legislative programme will better protect tenants, tackle poor landlords and make renting more secure.

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22. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiynau yna. Mae'r sector rhentu preifat yn chwarae rhan hanfodol yn ein system dai ni, efo tua un rhan o chwech o aelwydydd yn rhentu, ac felly mae hi'n bwysig iawn ein bod ni'n rhoi sylw penodol i bobl sydd yn wynebu costau cynyddol yn y rhent ac felly yn eu costau byw. Mi ydym ni, fel Llywodraeth, yn bwriadu gwneud hyn fesul cam. Fe fyddwch chi'n sylweddoli mai Llywodraeth leiafrifol ydym ni, ac felly efallai fydd yr uchelgais yr ydych chi a fi yn ei rannu ddim yn mynd i fod yn bosib yn llwyr, ond dwi'n benderfynol o wella amodau ar gyfer rhentwyr. Y Bil rhentwyr cyntaf fydd y cam cyntaf mewn rhaglen fydd yn datblygu wrth i ni symud ymlaen. Mi fydd y Bil rhentwyr cyntaf yn ein galluogi ni i gasglu'r data angenrheidiol sydd ei angen ar gyfer gweld beth yn union ydy'r sefyllfa rhentu ar draws Cymru mewn gwahanol ardaloedd. Bydd hwnna wedyn yn rhoi sylfaen i ni adeiladu arni ar gyfer ail a thrydydd Bil. A'r nod yn y pen draw, wrth gwrs, ydy ein bod ni'n rhoi mewn cyfraith yng Nghymru yr hawl i gartref digonol, a bod hwnna'n rhan bwysig o gyfraith a deddfwriaeth yng Nghymru.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much for those questions. The private rental sector does play a crucial role in our housing system, with around one in six households renting, and therefore it is hugely important that we give particular attention to those people who are facing increasing costs in their rent and thus in their costs of living. We, as a Government, intend to do this via a phased approach. You will realise that we are a minority Government, and so perhaps the ambition that you and I share won't be able to be delivered in full, but I am determined to improve the position for renters. The first renters Bill will be the first phase in a programme that will develop as we proceed. The first renters Bill will enable us to gather the necessary data that we need in order to see exactly what the situation in terms of renting in Wales in different areas. And that will provide us with a foundation to build on for a second and third Bill. And the aim ultimately, of course, is that we place in law in Wales the right to an adequate home, and that that is an important part of the Welsh legislative landscape.

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23. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Mae gofynion ansawdd datblygu Cymru yn sicrhau bod cartrefi cymdeithasol newydd yn darparu amgylchedd lle gall aelwydydd ffynnu, ac sy'n addasu i'w hanghenion newidiol. Mae gennym ni gyflenwad cryf o dai sy'n bodloni'r safonau yma, gan ddarparu cartrefi sy'n gynaliadwy, yn fforddiadwy i'w rhedeg, gan helpu i greu cymunedau bywiog ledled Cymru.

    Official English translation

    The Welsh development quality requirements ensure that new social homes provide an environment where households can thrive, and which adapt to their changing needs. We have a strong pipeline of housing that meets these standards, delivering homes that are sustainable and affordable to run, while helping to create vibrant communities across Wales.

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24. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning en

    Diolch yn fawr. I have heard other social landlords cite this as something that we need to look at, and that they think that maybe the balance should be redressed a little bit. So, my officials are available to discuss any challenges Trivallis or other social landlords are facing in bringing forward proposals. I've asked my officials to look specifically at the issue raised around EPC A, and so I hope to see that work come forward in the near future. On high-rise developments, we are pragmatic that, as long as all attempts to comply with the standard are taken, we'll accept schemes that achieve below EPC A—for instance, high EPC B with good levels of airtightness.

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25. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch. Mae'r polisi cynllunio yn nodi bod angen i awdurdodau cynllunio lleol gefnogi'r gwaith o ddarparu pob math o seilwaith sydd ei angen i ddiwallu anghenion cymunedau pan fydd datblygiadau tai newydd yn cael eu hystyried.

    Official English translation

    Thank you. Planning policy sets out that local planning authorities should support the provision of all types of infrastructure required to meet the needs of communities when new housing developments are considered.

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26. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Fel rydych chi'n dweud, mi ddylai hynna fod yn digwydd, a dwi yn cyd-fynd efo lot o'r hyn roeddech chi'n ei ddweud ar hyn. Mi ddylai awdurdodau cynllunio, ar y cyd â darparwyr allweddol, gymryd agwedd strategol a hirdymor tuag at ddarparu seilwaith wrth lunio cynlluniau. Gall hynny, wrth gwrs, gynnwys cydweithio rhwng awdurdodau lleol a darparwyr seilwaith allweddol i sicrhau bod hwnnw'n gynaliadwy ac yn addas i ddiben. Felly, mae fy neges i'n glir, ond, wrth gwrs, gwaith yr awdurdodau lleol ydy creu'r cynlluniau datblygu lleol. Dwi yn meddwl y dylai pob un ohonom ni gymryd llawer mwy o sylw pan fo'r cynlluniau datblygu lleol yma yn cael eu creu, ac yn cymryd rhan yn y broses fel Aelodau o'r Senedd, fel cynghorwyr, fel cynghorwyr cymuned, fel ein bod ni, ein llais ni, ynglŷn â seilwaith ac ynglŷn â materion eraill, yn cael ei glywed.

    Official English translation

    As you say, that should be happening, and I agree with a lot of what you said on this subject. Planning authorities, along with key providers, should take a strategic and long-term approach towards providing infrastructure in drawing up plans. That can, of course, include collaboration between local authorities and key infrastructure providers to ensure that that is sustainable and fit for purpose. So, my message is clear, but, of course, it is for the local authorities to create the LDPs. I do think that all of us should take a lot more notice when those LDPs are created and should take part in the process as Members of the Senedd, as councillors and as community councillors, so that our voice, on infrastructure and other issues, is heard.

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27. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch. Mae Cyngor Abertawe wedi cael dros £38 miliwn o'r grant tai cymdeithasol a £9.5 miliwn drwy raglen gyfalaf llety trosiannol eleni yn unig. Efo'i gilydd, bydd hynna yn cyfrannu at ddarparu 541 o gartrefi ychwanegol ar draws y tymor seneddol hwn.

    Official English translation

    Thank you. Swansea Council has been allocated over £38 million in social housing grant funding and £9.5 million through the transitional accommodation capital programme this year alone. Together, this will contribute to the delivery of 541 additional homes across this Senedd term.

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28. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Dwi jest yn mynd i ddweud unwaith eto fod tai cymdeithasol yn cael eu dyrannu yn ôl angen, ddim yn ôl cenedligrwydd. Pan ydych chi'n defnyddio y term 'foreign nationals', dwi ddim yn siŵr yn union beth rydych chi'n cyfeirio ato fo yn fanna. Mae 'foreign nationals' yn cynnwys pobl, teuluoedd, plant, sydd yn gweithio yn ein NHS ni, sydd yn gweithio yn ein cartrefi gofal ni, sydd yn dreifio'n bysys ni, sydd yn gwneud gwaith arbennig, gwaith pwysig sydd angen ei gyflawni yma yng Nghymru. Mae eu hanghenion nhw ar gyfer tai cymdeithasol yn cael eu hystyried yn union yr un fath ag anghenion pawb arall. Mae pawb sydd yn byw yng Nghymru yn haeddu cael cartref digonol, waeth beth ydy eu cenedligrwydd nhw, waeth beth fo'u cefndir nhw neu waeth beth fo'u rhywedd nhw. Mae pawb sydd yn byw yng Nghymru yn haeddu cael tŷ cymdeithasol.

    Official English translation

    I will just repeat once again that social housing is allocated according to need, not according to nationality. When you use the term 'foreign nationals', I'm not exactly sure what you're referring to there. 'Foreign nationals' include people, families, children, who work in our NHS, who work in our care homes, who drive our buses, who do excellent and important work that needs to be done here in Wales. Their needs for social housing are considered in the same way as everyone else's needs. Everyone who lives in Wales deserves to have an adequate home, whatever their nationality, whatever their background or their sex. Everyone living in Wales deserves a home.

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29. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr. Mae yna dipyn o ddiddordeb yn hyn heddiw. Rhaid i’n system gynllunio ni weithredu mewn modd amserol, ond rhaid iddi hefyd, wrth gwrs, wneud penderfyniadau cadarn i gyflawni ein huchelgeisiau ni ar gyfer Cymru, yn arbennig o ran yr economi a chymunedau. Dyna pam mae ein rhaglen lywodraethu ni yn ein hymrwymo ni i ddiwygio’r system gynllunio.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much. There is significant interest in this today. Our planning system must operate in a timely fashion, but it must also, of course, make robust decisions to deliver our ambitions for Wales, especially in terms of the economy and communities. That is why our programme for government has committed us to reform the planning system.

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30. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning en

    I don't think it's quite as simple as you point out. There are delays in the system, but there are all kinds of reasons why these delays come about. I absolutely want to hear your views in the call for evidence that we are holding, some of which you've talked about now, but there are lots of other matters that can be taken into account to try and make the system more streamlined. But I do give a caution: the capacity within the planning authorities has dwindled. It's become smaller and smaller because of austerity, because of cuts that have happened where councils have had to try and protect education, social services. Quite often, it's the planning and the planners that are affected. So, please can we bear that in mind as well when we're talking about streamlining of the planning process?

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31. 8. Reform UK Debate: Access to HMOs and social housing for foreign nationals cy

    Yn ffurfiol.

    Official English translation

    Formally.

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32. 8. Reform UK Debate: Access to HMOs and social housing for foreign nationals cy

    Diolch yn fawr, Lywydd. Dwi'n gwrthod y cynnig yma yn gryf. Diolch i Lynne Neagle am gydgyflwyno'r gwelliant. Dwi'n falch o gydweithio ar fater mor bwysig. Mae nod y Llywodraeth yma yn glir. Dylai pawb yng Nghymru gael mynediad at gartref diogel, cynnes a fforddiadwy. Fe all tai amlfeddianaeth, HMOs, o ansawdd da chwarae rhan yn hynny, cyn belled â'u bod yn cael eu rheoleiddio a'u rheoli'n lleol. Rhaid i benderfyniadau am dai cymdeithasol ddilyn ein fframwaith cyfreithiol, a rhaid iddyn nhw fod yn deg ac yn adlewyrchu'r angen am dai—hynny ydy, anghenion pawb sy'n gymwys yn gyfreithiol i fyw yma yng Nghymru. Dwi yn deall y rhwystredigaeth sy'n cael ei hachosi drwy aros yn hir am dai a gan gartrefi sy'n cael eu rheoli'n wael. Yr ateb ydy cynyddu'r cyflenwad o dai cyhoeddus, atal digartrefedd, cynnal safonau a chefnogi awdurdodau lleol, nid rhannu cymunedau na gosod grwpiau o bobl yn erbyn ei gilydd. Mae'r ciw am gartrefi cymdeithasol yn rhy hir, ond peidiwch â chreu rhaniadau diangen. Peidiwch â gosod pobl mewn angen yn erbyn ei gilydd. Yn hytrach, gweithiwn efo'n gilydd i greu mwy o gartrefi cyhoeddus i Gymru.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much, Llywydd. I strongly reject this motion. Thank you to Lynne Neagle for co-tabling the amendment. I was pleased to work with her on such an important issue. The Government's aim is clear. Everyone in Wales should have access to a safe, warm and affordable home. HMOs of good quality can play a part in that, as long as they are regulated and managed locally. Decisions on social housing must follow our legal framework, and they must be fair and reflect housing need—that is, the needs of everyone who legally qualifies to live here in Wales. I do understand the frustration that can be caused by long waits for housing and by poorly managed homes. The solution is to increase the supply of social housing, prevent homelessness, uphold standards and support local authorities, not to divide communities or to pit groups of people against each other. The queue for social housing is too long, but don't create unnecessary division. Don't pit people in need against each other. Rather, we should work together to create more social homes in Wales.

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33. 8. Reform UK Debate: Access to HMOs and social housing for foreign nationals en

    Reform says, 'End access to social housing for foreign nationals.' That's your policy. Does that mean that families who have a legal right to be here—families and their children—would be asked to leave their homes, turfed out onto the streets? Well, yes, I got the answer from Joe Martin. He said exactly that. They'd have three months. They would have three months to leave. That is what you said. That is an inhumane proposition, and it's a very, very sad day for this Senedd to hear those comments.

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34. 8. Reform UK Debate: Access to HMOs and social housing for foreign nationals cy

    Mae'r cynnig gan Reform yn galw am gyfyngu ar fynediad at dai cymdeithasol ar sail cenedligrwydd. Allwn ni ddim, wrth gwrs, gefnogi'r cynnig yma. Mae tai cymdeithasol yn cael eu dyrannu ar sail yr angen am dai ymhlith y rhai sy'n gymwys yn gyfreithiol. Dydyn nhw ddim yn cael eu dyrannu ar sail cenedligrwydd, ethnigrwydd na man geni. Mae deddfwriaeth eisoes yn rheoli'r hawl i gael tai cymdeithasol. Mae statws mewnfudo a man preswylio cyfreithlon eisoes yn ystyriaethau allweddol sy'n cael eu defnyddio i benderfynu ar gymhwystra rhywun. Dim ond pobl sydd â'r hawl i aros sydd yn gymwys i gael cymorth tai a thai cymdeithasol. Dydy tai cymdeithasol ddim yn cael eu dyrannu i bobl sy'n ceisio lloches. Rydyn ni wedi clywed hynna dro ar ôl tro. Mae Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig yn darparu llety dros dro tra bo cais yn cael ei ystyried. Os bydd rhywun yn cael statws ffoadur—a dwi'n atgoffa'r Aelodau fod hynny'n golygu bod Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig wedi canfod bod yr unigolyn wedi ffoi rhag rhyfel, ofn neu erledigaeth—yna gallan nhw wneud cais am gymorth tai o dan yr un rheolau ag aelwydydd eraill. Mae'r cynnig yma, felly, yn camliwio'r system bresennol. Mae'r her sy'n ein hwynebu ni yn ymwneud â chyflenwad tai, a'r ateb ydy adeiladu mwy o gartrefi a gwneud y defnydd gorau o'r cartrefi sydd ar gael. Lle mae polisi Reform ar gynyddu'r cyflenwad o dai cymdeithasol? Does gennych chi ddim polisi ynglŷn â hynny. Dydy pobl sydd yn chwilio am noddfa a phobl o wledydd eraill sy'n byw yn gyfreithlon yng Nghymru ddim yn cael unrhyw ffafriaeth o ran tai, a dydyn nhw ddim yn gyfrifol am y prinder tai fforddiadwy rydyn ni'n ei brofi ar hyn o bryd. Ac mae achosion y pwysau ar y cyflenwad tai yng Nghymru'n gymhleth, wedi bodoli ers amser maith, a dydy o ddim yn gwneud synnwyr—dydy'r ffeithiau ddim yn cyd-fynd â'r awgrym bod modd datrys yr heriau drwy eithrio grwpiau penodol. Dydy gwneud i grwpiau gwahanol gystadlu â'i gilydd ddim yn creu cartrefi nac yn lleihau pwysau ar wasanaethau. Mi wnaf i droi wrth gloi at dai amlfeddiannaeth. Math o gartrefi sy'n cael eu rhannu ydy'r rhain, nid categori mewnfudo. Maen nhw'n darparu cartref i fyfyrwyr, gweithwyr proffesiynol ifanc a phobl eraill sydd angen tai, a dim ond lleiafrif bach sy'n cael eu defnyddio i letya ceiswyr lloches. Mae gan Gymru system reoleiddio glir. Mae angen trwydded ar gartrefi sy'n cael eu rhannu sydd o faint mwy ac yn wynebu risg uwch, ac fe all awdurdodau lleol ehangu'r gofynion trwyddedu pan fydd y dystiolaeth leol yn cyfiawnhau hynny. Fe allan nhw osod amodau, archwilio eiddo, gofyn am welliannau, gosod cosbau, atal cartrefi anniogel rhag cael eu defnyddio, ac erlyn landlordiaid. Fe allan nhw hefyd ddefnyddio pwerau cynllunio pan fydd hynny'n briodol. Dydy llety sy'n cael ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer pobl sy'n ceisio lloches ddim wedi'i eithrio rhag gofynion cynllunio neu drwyddedu, ond yr awdurdodau lleol sydd yn y sefyllfa orau i ddefnyddio'r pwerau hyn am eu bod nhw'n deall y sefyllfa dai lleol a'r pwysau ar gymunedau. Dŷn ni yn parhau i weithio efo cynghorau a Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru i asesu a ydy'r fframwaith yn effeithiol ac a oes angen cymorth pellach, a dwi wedi gwneud yn glir y dylai trwyddedu amddiffyn preswylwyr a sicrhau camau rheoli priodol. Mae'n safbwynt ni'n hollol glir: mae tai cymdeithasol yn cael eu dyrannu yn ôl yr angen ac yn unol â phwy sy'n gymwys yn ôl y gyfraith. Mae awdurdodau lleol yn rheoli prosesau trwyddedu a chynllunio mewn perthynas â thai amlfeddiannaeth o fewn y fframwaith cenedlaethol. Y Swyddfa Gartref sy'n penderfynu ble mae llety i geiswyr lloches yn cael ei ddarparu. Mae'r cynnig gwreiddiol yn awgrymu dull o ymdrin â phroblem dai gymhleth sydd yn llawer iawn rhy syml ac yn creu rhwygiadau. Mae gwelliant y Llywodraeth, efo cefnogaeth Lynne Neagle a'r grŵp Llafur, yn adlewyrchu'r gyfraith, yn parchu cyfrifoldebau pob haen o lywodraeth ac yn canolbwyntio ar gamau gweithredu a all wneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol. Felly, dwi'n gofyn i'r Aelodau wrthod y cynnig a chefnogi gwelliant y Llywodraeth.

    Official English translation

    The Reform motion calls for a restriction on access to social housing on the grounds of nationality. We cannot, of course, support that proposal. Social housing is allocated on the basis of housing need among those who are legally eligible. It's not allocated on the basis of nationality, ethnicity, or place of birth. Legislation already controls the right to social housing. Immigration status and legal residence are already key considerations by which to determine someone's eligibility. It's only people who have the right to remain who are eligible for housing support and social housing. Social housing is not allocated to people seeking asylum. We've heard that time and again. The UK Government provides temporary accommodation while a claim is considered. If someone is granted refugee status—and I remind Members that this means that the UK Government has found that the individual has fled from war, fear or persecution—then they may seek housing assistance under the same rules as other households. This motion, therefore, misrepresents the current system. The challenge we face is one of housing supply, and the solution is to build more homes and make the best possible use of the homes that we have. Where is the Reform policy on increasing the supply of social homes? You have no policy on that. People seeking sanctuary and people from other countries who live lawfully in Wales do not get any preferential treatment for housing, and they are not responsible for the shortage of affordable housing that we are currently experiencing. And the causes of the pressure on housing stock in Wales are complex and have existed for a long time, and it makes no sense—the facts don't actually back up that we can actually solve the problem by exempting a particular group. Making different groups compete with each other doesn't create housing or reduce pressure on services. I will turn in conclusion to HMOs. These are shared homes, not an immigration category. They provide homes for students, young professionals and others who need housing, and only a small minority are used to house asylum seekers. Wales has a clear regulation system. You need a licence for HMOs, which are larger and face greater risks, and local authorities can expand the licensing requirement when local factors justify that. They can place conditions, search properties, they can penalise and prevent unsafe accommodation from being used, and they can prosecute landlords. They can also use planning powers when appropriate. Accommodation used for asylum seekers is not exempted from planning or licensing requirements, but it's local authorities who are best placed to use those powers because they understand the local housing situation and the pressure on communities. We continue to work with councils and the Welsh Local Government Association to assess whether the framework is effective and whether further support is required, and I have made it clear that licensing should protect residents and ensure appropriate regulation. Our stance is quite clear: social housing is allocated according to need, in accordance with who qualifies through law. Local authorities manage licensing and planning processes in relation to HMOs within the national framework. The Home Office decides where asylum accommodation is provided. The original motion suggests a simplistic and divisive approach to a complex housing problem. The Government's amendment, with the support of Lynne Neagle and the Labour group, reflects the law, respects the responsibility of each level of government and focuses on actions that can make a real difference. I therefore ask Members to reject the motion and support the Government's amendment.

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1. 5. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: The Revision of the National Development Framework and National Conversation cy

   Diolch yn fawr iawn, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Heddiw, mae'n bleser gen i roi gwybod i'r Aelodau fy mod wedi lansio sgwrs genedlaethol am ddyfodol Cymru drwy greu fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol newydd. Mae'r fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol wrth wraidd y system gynllunio yng Nghymru, yn darparu'r cyfeiriad strategol ar gyfer cynlluniau datblygu rhanbarthol a lleol, a'r fframwaith ar gyfer penderfyniadau cynllunio a datblygu ledled Cymru. Wrth i Gymru barhau i ymateb i heriau sylweddol, gan gynnwys newid hinsawdd, adferiad natur, yr angen am dai, twf economaidd a chyflenwi seilwaith, mae'n hanfodol bod ein fframwaith cynllunio cenedlaethol ni yn addas i'r diben ac yn gallu cefnogi uchelgais ein cenedl ar gyfer y dyfodol. O fewn 100 niwrnod cyntaf y Llywodraeth newydd yma, fe lansiwyd ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus i nodi dechrau'r broses ar gyfer diwygio’r fframwaith a dechrau sgwrs genedlaethol am ddyfodol hirdymor Cymru. Yn hytrach nag ymgynghori ar faterion cynllunio yn unig, fe fydd y gwaith ymgysylltu drwy gydol y broses yn gwahodd pobl i ystyried dyfodol hirdymor Cymru a rôl lleoedd, cymunedau, seilwaith, yr amgylchedd, yr iaith Gymraeg a diwylliant wrth lunio dyfodol ein gwlad hyd at 2050. Rydym ni’n gwahodd pobl Cymru i helpu i lunio cyfeiriad, blaenoriaethau a chwmpas y fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol newydd. Mae hyn yn adlewyrchu ein hymrwymiad i weithio efo awdurdodau lleol, partneriaid rhanbarthol a rhanddeiliaid ledled Cymru i ddatblygu fframwaith sy'n diwallu anghenion Cymru, yn grymuso llywodraeth leol, ac yn lleihau costau, biwrocratiaeth a dyblygu. Mae hefyd yn cefnogi ein huchelgais i symud tuag at ddull cynllunio sy'n canolbwyntio ar y gymuned, gan roi llais go iawn i gymunedau ar sut rydym ni’n diogelu'r cartrefi, y gweithleoedd a'r seilwaith sydd eu hangen arnynt. Fe fydd y fframwaith yn chwarae rôl gyffredinol allweddol yn y ffordd y mae'r penderfyniadau hynny'n cael eu gwneud yn lleol, yn rhanbarthol ac yn genedlaethol. Yn bwysig, fe fydd y sgwrs genedlaethol hefyd yn helpu i gydlynu ar draws ystod o gynlluniau a strategaethau sy'n cael eu symud ymlaen yn ystod tymor y Llywodraeth hon, fel yr amlinellir yn ein rhaglen lywodraethu a gyhoeddwyd yr wythnos diwethaf. Bydd y dull cydweithredol a chydgysylltiedig yma o alinio blaenoriaethau cenedlaethol yn sicrhau bod amcanion y Llywodraeth yn cael eu cyflawni'n fwy effeithiol. Mae'r penderfyniadau a wneir drwy'r system gynllunio yn cyffwrdd â phob agwedd ar fywyd bob dydd. Maen nhw’n dylanwadu ar ble mae cartrefi yn cael eu hadeiladu, sut mae pobl yn teithio, ble mae busnesau yn buddsoddi, sut mae ynni yn cael ei gynhyrchu a'i ddosbarthu, a sut rydym ni’n diogelu ac yn gwella ein hamgylchedd naturiol. Dyna pam mae hi mor bwysig bod y fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol newydd yn cael ei siapio gan ystod eang o leisiau, profiadau a thystiolaeth. Dwi am i hon fod yn sgwrs genedlaethol agored, gynhwysol ac ystyrlon. Mae'r fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol yn perthyn i bawb o ystyried ei bwysigrwydd wrth ddarparu fframwaith ar gyfer datblygiadau newydd ledled Cymru gyfan. Rydyn ni’n croesawu ac yn annog sylwadau gan bawb, ac mae gan bob grŵp, sefydliad, busnes ac unigolyn gyfraniad i'w wneud wrth ddatblygu'r cynllun gofodol cenedlaethol. Ochr yn ochr â'r cyfle i gyflwyno sylwadau ysgrifenedig a chyflwyno tystiolaeth i gefnogi'r gwaith diwygio, mae'r ymgynghoriad presennol yn cynnwys cyfres o ddigwyddiadau i'r cyhoedd a rhanddeiliaid ledled Cymru sy'n cael eu cynnal yng Nghaerdydd yfory, 30 Medi, yn Aberystwyth ar 6 Hydref ac yn Llandudno ar 23 Hydref. Maen nhw’n rhoi cyfle i bawb, gan gynnwys awdurdodau lleol, busnesau, datblygwyr, darparwyr seilwaith, sefydliadau amgylcheddol, cyrff tai, grwpiau cymunedol, pobl ifanc ac aelodau o'r cyhoedd i gael lleisio eu barn. Bydd tystiolaeth hefyd yn chwarae rôl hanfodol drwy gydol y broses yma. Drwy'r ymgynghoriad yma, dwi’n gwahodd rhanddeiliaid i gyfrannu gwybodaeth, ymchwil, dadansoddiad a mewnwelediad ar y cyfleoedd a'r heriau y mae Cymru yn debygol o’u hwynebu dros y degawdau nesaf. Bydd y dystiolaeth hon yn helpu i lywio'r gwaith o baratoi'r fframwaith newydd, ei weledigaeth gyffredinol, yr opsiynau a fydd yn cael eu hystyried a'r polisïau fydd yn cael eu cynnwys ynddo. Yn ei hanfod, mae cynllunio yn ymwneud â chreu lleoedd gwell i bobl a'r amgylchedd. Felly, rhaid i'r fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol newydd gefnogi twf economaidd cynaliadwy, cymunedau gwydn, stiwardiaeth amgylcheddol a lles hirdymor cenedlaethau'r presennol a'r dyfodol. Felly, dwi'n annog pawb sydd â diddordeb yn nyfodol Cymru i fod yn rhan o'r ymgynghoriad yma a chyfrannu at y sgwrs genedlaethol bwysig yma. Mae modd cyflwyno ymatebion ar-lein, drwy e-bost neu drwy'r post, hyd at 20 Tachwedd eleni, ond mi fydd yna fwy o gyfleon i ymgysylltu maes o law hefyd. Diolch.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd. Today, I'm pleased to inform Members that I've launched a national conversation about the future of Wales through the creation of a new national development framework. The national development framework sits at the heart of the planning system in Wales, providing the strategic direction for regional and local development plans, and the framework for planning and development decisions across Wales. As Wales continues to respond to significant challenges, including climate change, nature recovery, housing need, economic growth and infrastructure delivery, it's essential that our national planning framework is fit for purpose and capable of supporting our nation's ambitions for the future. Within the first 100 days of this new Government, a public consultation was launched marking the start of the process for revising the framework and beginning a national conversation about the long-term future of Wales. Rather than consulting solely on planning matters, engagement work throughout the process will invite people to consider the long-term future of Wales and the role that places, communities, infrastructure, the environment, the Welsh language and culture should play in shaping our nation's future to 2050. We are inviting the people of Wales to help shape the direction, priorities and scope of the new national development framework. This reflects our commitment to work with local authorities, regional partners and stakeholders across Wales to develop a framework that meets Wales's needs, empowers local government, and reduces costs, bureaucracy and duplication. It also supports our ambition to move towards a community-centred approach to planning, giving communities a real say on how we secure the homes, the workplaces and infrastructure they need. The framework will play a key, overarching role in how those decisions are made locally, regionally and nationally. Importantly, the national conversation will also help co-ordination across a range of plans and strategies that are being taken forward during this Government term, as outlined in our programme for government that was published last week. This collaborative and co-ordinated approach to align national priorities will ensure more effective delivery of Government objectives. The decisions made through the planning system touch every aspect of daily life. They influence where homes are built, how people travel, where businesses invest, how energy is generated and distributed, and how we protect and enhance our natural environment. That is why it's so important that the new national development framework is shaped by a broad range of voices, experiences and evidence. I want this to be an open, inclusive and meaningful national conversation. The national development framework belongs to everybody, considering its importance in providing a framework for new development across Wales. We welcome and encourage representations from everyone, and every group, institution, business and individual has a contribution to make in developing the national spatial plan. Alongside the opportunity to submit written representations and submit evidence to support the revision work, the current consultation includes a series of public and stakeholder events across Wales. They'll be taking place in Cardiff tomorrow, on 30 September, Aberystwyth on 6 October and Llandudno on 23 October. They provide the opportunity for all, including local authorities, businesses, developers, infrastructure providers, environmental organisations, housing bodies, community groups, young people and members of the public to have their say and give their views. Evidence will also play a critical role throughout this process. Through this consultation, I’m inviting stakeholders to contribute information, research, analysis and insight on the opportunities and challenges that Wales is likely to face over the coming decades. This evidence will help inform the preparation of the revised framework, its overall vision, the options that will be considered and the policies contained within it. At its core, planning is about creating better places for people and the environment. Therefore, the revised national development framework must support sustainable economic growth, resilient communities, environmental stewardship and the long-term well-being of current and future generations. I therefore encourage everyone with an interest in the future of Wales to engage with this consultation and contribute to this important national conversation. Responses can be submitted online, by e-mail or by post until 20 November this year, but there will be more opportunities to engage shortly as well. Thank you.

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2. 5. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: The Revision of the National Development Framework and National Conversation cy

   Diolch yn fawr iawn am y sylwadau yna, a diolch yn arbennig am y syniadau a wnaethoch chi gyflwyno ar ddiwedd eich anerchiad—y syniadau ynglŷn â phethau ymarferol y gellid eu gwneud. Dyna'n union ydy pwrpas yr ymgynghoriad yma: i wahodd pobl fel chi, fel pawb ohonom ni yn y Siambr yma, i feddwl o ddifrif am sut allwn ni wella'r gyfundrefn gynllunio fel ei bod hi'n gallu ymateb yn gynt i geisiadau cynllunio pan fydd yna broblemau yn codi efo'r materion roeddech chi'n sôn amdanyn nhw. Felly, mae ambell syniad yn fanna yn werth ymchwilio ymhellach iddo fo, a dwi'n gwahodd ambell un ohonoch chi sydd efo diddordeb yn y maes yma—nifer ohonom ni wedi bod yn gynghorwyr sir ac yn ymwybodol iawn, iawn fod y system gynllunio weithiau'n gallu dal datblygiadau tai yn ôl. Dyna'n union pam rydyn ni'n cynnal yr ymgynghoriad yma. Mae'n ymgynghoriad ynglŷn â sut mae'r broses gynllunio angen cael ei gwneud yn fwy effeithiol, ond mae o hefyd yn ymgynghoriad ynglŷn â'n gweledigaeth tymor hir ni ar gyfer Cymru. Y rheswm ein bod ni'n gwneud hyn ydy ein bod ni'n teimlo, dros fodolaeth y Senedd yma, fod y cyfeiriad clir ar gyfer dyfodol ein gwlad ni ddim wedi bod yn ddigon amlwg. Felly, mae yna gyfle, efo Llywodraeth newydd, i ddefnyddio'r broses sydd yna mewn statud yn barod, sef diwygio'r fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol, i gael y sgwrs yna efo pobl Cymru ynglŷn â dyfodol hirdymor ein gwlad ni. Mae Plaid Cymru yn coelio mewn adeiladu Cymru, mewn adeiladu'r genedl, a chreu Cymru sy'n gweithio i bobl Cymru, gan gysylltu Cymru'n well o ran trafnidiaeth, er enghraifft. Dydy hynny ddim yn digwydd ar hyn o bryd, fel y mae rhywun yn gwybod wrth geisio teithio o gwmpas ein gwlad ni. Dydyn ni ddim yn cael ein cysylltu, felly mae trafnidiaeth yn dod i mewn o dan yr ymgynghoriad yma. Mae cyfle i drafod polisi ynni. Rydyn ni'n gwybod bod yna heriau o'n blaenau ni o ran symud ymlaen efo mwy o ddatblygiadau ynni adnewyddadwy. Felly, o dan y fframwaith yma, mae yna nifer o gynlluniau eraill yn mynd i fod yn gorwedd. A dwi'n deall beth rydych chi'n ei ddweud ynglŷn â strategaethau a chynlluniau, ac yn y blaen, a dwi'n rhannu rhywfaint o rwystredigaeth efo hynny. Beth rydyn ni ei eisiau ydy gweithredu, gweld pethau yn digwydd. Ond mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw ddigwydd mewn ffordd sydd wedi'i chydlynu ac mewn ffordd sydd wedi cael ei thrafod o ran y cyfeiriad hirdymor rydyn ni am weld ein gwlad ni'n mynd iddo fo. A dwi ddim yn meddwl bod 'Future Wales', y cynllun sydd yna rŵan, yn rhoi'r darlun clir yna o ba fath o ddyfodol sydd ei angen ar Gymru. Ac yn sicr, dydy 'Future Wales', y cynllun sydd yna ar hyn o bryd, ddim wedi gallu adnabod rhai o'r heriau mawr, rhai ohonyn nhw sy'n datblygu wrth i ni siarad, wrth gwrs, achos mae'r cynllun yn hen, ond mae yna heriau newydd yn dod i'n hwynebu ni drwy'r amser ac mae'n rhaid i ni, felly, ddiwygio er mwyn ein bod ni'n cymryd i ystyriaeth y materion eraill sydd yn rhan o'n gweledigaeth ni ar gyfer datblygu'n gwlad. Diolch.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much for those comments, and thank you in particular for the ideas that you put forward at the end of your contribution—those ideas on practical steps that could be taken. That's the exact purpose of this consultation: to invite people like you, like all of us in this Chamber, to give serious consideration to how we can improve the planning system so that it can respond more quickly to planning applications when problems arise with the issues that you mentioned in your contribution. So, there are a few ideas there that are worth looking into, and I would encourage some of you who are interested in this area—many of us have been county councillors and are highly aware that the planning system can sometimes hold back housing development. That is exactly why we are carrying out this consultation. It is a consultation on how the planning process needs to be made more effective and efficient, but it is also a consultation on our long-term vision for Wales. The reason for doing this is that we feel that, during the existence of this Senedd, a clear direction in terms of the future of our nation hasn't been adequately apparent. So, there is an opportunity, with a new Government, to use the process that exists in statute already, namely the reform of the national planning framework, to have that conversation with the people of Wales on the long-term future of our nation. Plaid Cymru firmly believes in building Wales, in building the nation, and creating a Wales that works for the people of Wales, connecting Wales more effectively in terms of transport, for example. That isn't happening at the moment, as anyone who travels around our country will know. We are not well connected, so transport comes into this consultation. There is an opportunity to discuss energy policy too. We know that we are facing challenges in moving forward with more renewable energy developments. So, under this framework, there are a number of different plans that will sit underneath it. And I understand the comments that you make about plans and strategies, and so on, and I share some of that frustration. What we want is action, to see things happening. But they have to happen in a co-ordinated way and in a way that has been properly discussed in terms of the long-term direction of travel that we want to see for our nation. I don't think that 'Future Wales', the current plan, provides that clear picture as to what kind of future Wales needs. And certainly, 'Future Wales', the existing plan, hasn't been able to identify some of the major challenges, some of which are developing as we speak, of course, because the plan is old, and there are new challenges coming to face us all the time and we must, therefore, reform in order to take into account all those other issues that are part of our vision for developing our nation. Thank you.

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3. 5. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: The Revision of the National Development Framework and National Conversation cy

   Diolch yn fawr, a diolch yn fawr iawn, Vikki, am groesawu'r ffaith ein bod ni'n ymgynghori ar y fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol. Yn sicr, dydy ymgynghori ar hwn ddim yn golygu nad ydyn ni'n gwneud pethau eraill yn y cyfamser. Gyda 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru', er enghraifft, mae yna ffordd i ni fod yn dod â diwygiadau i mewn i'r polisi hwnnw, fel yr oeddwn i'n sôn yn flaenorol, er mwyn prysuro rhai o'n huchelgeisiau ni. Ond dwi yn grediniol bod yn rhaid i ni gael gweledigaeth hirdymor ar gyfer ein gwlad, a dyna, mewn ffordd, ydy'r cyfle rŵan, a chyfle i wrando ar beth mae pobl Cymru yn eu gweld fel y prif heriau. Mi fydd y fframwaith yma yn fframwaith gofodol, mae'n debyg—dyna'r ffordd i egluro'r peth—er mwyn bod rhywun yn gallu gweld ar fap sut byddai'r datblygiadau mewn gwahanol feysydd yn ffitio at ei gilydd. O ran yr ymgysylltu, mae'r broses o ymgysylltu ar y fframwaith yma wedi cael ei gosod i lawr mewn deddfwriaeth yn mynd yn ôl i 2015, cyn fy mod i yn y Senedd yma, hyd yn oed. Yn ystod y cyfnod yna, pasiwyd Deddf Cynllunio (Cymru) 2015, ac yn hwnna mae yna ofyniad i'r Llywodraeth fod yn creu strategaeth ddatblygu genedlaethol. Wedyn, mae'r Ddeddf hefyd yn gosod allan y math o broses sydd angen digwydd er mwyn diwygio neu greu fframwaith newydd. Cyn 2015, doedd yna ddim fframwaith cenedlaethol statudol. Bydd rhai ohonoch chi'n cofio'r Wales spatial plan, ond doedd yna ddim statud y tu ôl iddo fo. Dwi'n meddwl roedd hi'n rhywbeth i'w groesawu pan ddaeth y ddeddfwriaeth newydd yma i mewn. Mae'r broses o greu a diwygio'r fframwaith yn un hirwyntog, buaswn i'n cytuno efo hynny, a dwi'n siŵr efallai bod angen diwygio hynny. Cychwyn y broses ydyn ni heddiw a gofyn am dystiolaeth o bob cyfeiriad. Ar ôl hynny, mi fydd yna gyfleoedd pellach. Os edrychwch chi ar yr ymgynghoriad presennol, mae o'n gofyn cwestiynau ynglŷn ag ydyn ni'n gofyn y cwestiynau cywir ac yn rhoi cyfle i bawb i feddwl, 'Dydyn ni ddim yn gofyn am hyn, dydyn ni ddim yn mynd ar ôl y mater yma, efallai y dylem ni fod yn gwneud hynny.' Wedyn, mae yna broses o ail ymgynghoriad. Mae hwn yn mynd i gymryd dwy neu dair  blynedd i ni weithredu arno fo. Dyna ydy'r Ddeddf. Ydw i'n cytuno efo hynna i gyd? Nac ydw, mae'n debyg. Mi ddylem ni allu gwneud rhywbeth llawer iawn cynt, ond dyna'r sefyllfa rydyn ni ynddi hi ar hyn o bryd. Felly, yn ogystal â'r tri gweithdy, bydd yna lawer iawn mwy o gyfleoedd i bawb yng Nghymru gymryd rhan a bod yn rhan o'r sgwrs yma. Mi fyddwch chi'n clywed mwy gennyf i ar y pwnc yma dros y ddwy neu dair blynedd nesaf yma.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much, and thank you, Vikki, for welcoming the fact that we are consulting on the national development framework. Certainly, consulting on this doesn't mean that we aren't doing other things in the meantime. With 'Planning Policy Wales', for example, there is a way for us to bring reforms into that policy, as I mentioned previously, in order to move ahead with some of our ambitions swiftly. But I do believe that we need a long-term vision for our nation, and that, in a way, is the opportunity that we have now, and an opportunity to listen to what the people of Wales see as the main challenges. This framework will be a spatial framework, it seems—that's the way of explaining it—so that people can see on a map how the developments in different areas would fit together. In terms of engagement, the process of engaging on this framework is set out in legislation going back to 2015, before I was in this Senedd, even. During that period, the Planning (Wales) Act 2015 was passed, and there's a requirement in that for the Government to create a national development framework. The Act also sets out the kind of process required in order to reform or create a new framework. Before 2015, there wasn't a statutory national framework. Some of you will remember the Wales spatial plan, but that didn't have any statutory basis. I think it was something to be welcomed when this legislation was introduced. The process of creating and revising the framework is a long-winded one, I would agree with that, and I'm sure that perhaps there's a need to revise that. We are starting the process today and asking for evidence from every direction. Following that, there will be further opportunities. If you look at the current consultation, it asks questions about whether we're asking the right questions and providing everyone with an opportunity to think, 'We're not asking this, we're not going after this issue, perhaps we should be doing that.' Then there's a process of another consultation. It’s going to take two to three years to take action on it. That’s the Act. Do I agree with all of that? No, probably not. We should be able to do things much quicker, but that's the situation we are in currently. So, as well as the three workshops, there will be many more opportunities for everybody in Wales to take part and to be part of this conversation. You will be hearing more from me on this subject over the next two to three years.

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4. 5. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: The Revision of the National Development Framework and National Conversation cy

   Diolch yn fawr iawn a diolch am godi nifer o bwyntiau pwysig yn fan hyn. Tra bod yr ymgynghoriad yma yn digwydd, ac mae'n ymgynghoriad pwysig, wrth gwrs, mae llawer iawn o weithredu yn digwydd hefyd gan y Llywodraeth yma. Fel mam a fu'n magu pedwar o blant ar fy mhen fy hun, dwi'n gwybod yn iawn beth ydy jyglo rhwng gwahanol ofynion a chadw lot o blatiau yn troi ar yr un pryd. Felly, dydy sôn bod rhywun jest yn gwneud un peth ac yn methu â gwneud llu o bethau eraill ddim yn realistig yn fy mhrofiad i. Rydw i a nifer o'r Gweinidogion efo peth wmbreth o wahanol bethau a materion maen nhw'n gweithredu arnyn nhw wrth inni fod yn siarad heddiw. Mae'r ymgynghoriad yma yn un peth dwi'n canolbwyntio arno fo a dwi'n meddwl bod hwnna'n hollbwysig. Ond dwi hefyd yn canolbwyntio ar gyflawni'r targed o 20,000 o dai cymdeithasol newydd erbyn diwedd cyfnod y Senedd yma. Dwi'n croesawu eich ymrwymiad chi i fod yn cynyddu'r stoc tai cymdeithasol. Mae'r hawl i bawb gael cartref yn greiddiol i'r gwaith dwi'n ei wneud yn y Senedd yma. Ond cymerwch gam yn ôl rŵan. Mae'r cynllun datblygu a'r fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol yma hefyd yn edrych ar faterion yn ymwneud efo tai. Mae o hefyd yn edrych ar faterion yn ymwneud efo twf yr economi. Fy ngobaith i ydy, ar ôl gwrando a sgwrsio, y bydd gennym ni gynllun newydd a fydd yn creu gweledigaeth realistig ar gyfer datblygu pob rhan o Gymru. Fel roeddech chi'n sôn, mae hynna yn hollbwysig. Mae angen i'r cynllun a'r fframwaith yma ein galluogi ni i ddosbarthu cyfoeth a thwf i bob rhan o Gymru, gan gadw'r grym economaidd sydd yng Nghaerdydd a Chasnewydd, ond hefyd y twf economaidd yn cyrraedd y gogledd, y canolbarth a'r de-orllewin. Felly, mae angen strategaethau rhanbarthol ystyrlon, a fydd yn rhan o'r weledigaeth hirdymor yna. Rydych chi'n sôn am leihau biwrocratiaeth a'r prosesau cynllunio. Wel, dowch â'ch syniadau ymlaen. Mae pawb yn dweud wrthyf fi bod eisiau prysuro'r gyfundrefn gynllunio, bod eisiau gwneud pethau'n haws, a dwi'n cytuno, ac mae gen i rai syniadau ynglyn â sut i symud hynny ymlaen. Dwi'n hapus iawn i glywed syniadau ymarferol ynglân â sut ydyn ni'n gwneud hynny, yn ymarferol, ar lawr gwlad, fel ein bod ni yn tynnu rhai o'r rhwystrau yma sydd yn dal datblygiadau yn ôl, gan gynnwys datblygiadau hollbwysig, sef tai.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much, and thank you for raising a number of important points there. Whilst this consultation is ongoing, and it is an important consultation, of course, there is also a great deal of action taking place in this Government. As a mother who brought up four children alone, I know full well what it means to juggle different priorities and to keep many plates spinning simultaneously. So, the suggestion that one simply does one thing and therefore can't do anything else just isn't realistic in my own experience. Many Ministers and I have a whole host of different issues that we are working on as we speak today. This consultation is one issue that I'm focused on, and I think that's crucially important. But I'm also focusing on delivering the target of 20,000 new social homes by the end of this Senedd term. I welcome your commitment to increasing the social housing stock too. The right for everyone to have a home is at the heart of the work that I am doing in this Senedd. But take a step back now. The development plan and the national development framework also look at issues related to housing. It also looks at issues related to economic growth. My hope is, having listened and had those conversations, that we will have a new plan that will provide a realistic vision for the development of all parts of Wales. As you mentioned, that's crucially important. The plan and framework must enable us to distribute wealth and growth to all parts of Wales, retaining the economic powerhouses of Cardiff and Newport, but also distributing that economic growth to north, mid and south-west Wales. So, we need meaningful regional strategies too, which will be part of the long-term vision. You mentioned reducing bureaucracy and planning processes. Well, bring your ideas forward. Everyone tells me that we need to accelerate the planning system, that we need to make things easier, and I agree, and I have some ideas as to how we can make progress in that area. I'm very happy to hear practical ideas as to how we deliver that, in practice, on the ground, so that we do remove some of these barriers that can hold developments back, including crucial housing developments.

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5. 5. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: The Revision of the National Development Framework and National Conversation cy

   Diolch yn fawr iawn. Gwnes i sôn ar y dechrau bod angen fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol newydd oherwydd bod yna heriau a chyfleoedd newydd yn wynebu Cymru, yn wahanol i 2015 pan ddechreuwyd y broses yma, ac yn wahanol i gyfnod 2020-21 pan ffurfiwyd y fframwaith sydd yn dal yn bodoli heddiw. Mae yna heriau newydd yn dod ar ein traws ni, ac un o'r rheini ydy canolfannau data. Medraf i ddweud wrthych chi fod y Gweinidog economi a menter, beth bynnag ydy enw Adam Price y dyddiau yma, ei rôl o—. Mae fy nghydweithiwr Adam Price wedi comisiynu gwaith sydd yn mynd i fod yn edrych ar ganolfannau data a'r defnydd o ddeallusrwydd artiffisial ac yn y blaen, achos yn ei bortffolio fo fel Gweinidog mae'r maes penodol yna. Fel roeddwn i'n sôn, dyma un o'r pethau newydd sydd yn dod ymlaen, ac mae'n bwysig ofnadwy i ni gydnabod, efo'r twf mewn canolfannau data yng Nghymru, bod angen fframwaith polisi sydd yn un cadarn ac un sydd yn mynd i fod yn ddefnyddiol ar gyfer y dyfodol. Mae'n debyg bod angen inni wneud hynny mewn ffordd sydd yn rhoi balans rhwng y buddion economaidd, ond hefyd yn cydnabod y pryder gwirioneddol sydd gan bobl ar lefel cymunedol, a hefyd y pryder ynglŷn â defnydd o ynni a dŵr ac yn y blaen, a defnydd tir. Dwi'n meddwl bod Adam Price wedi gosod allan yr wythnos diwethaf y byddwn ni yn dod â pholisi gerbron cyn gynted â phosib. Yn amlwg, dydy o ddim yn briodol i fi wneud sylwadau am y cynllun penodol rydych chi'n sôn amdano fo.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much. I mentioned at the beginning that there's a need for a new national development framework because there are new challenges and opportunities facing Wales, which was different to the situation in 2015 when this process began, and different to the 2020-21 period, when the framework that still exists today was formed. There are new challenges facing us, and one of those is data centres. I can tell you that the Minister for economy and enterprise, whatever Adam Price's name is now, in his role—. My colleague Adam Price has commissioned work that is going to be looking at data centres and the use of artificial intelligence and so forth, because that specific area lies in his portfolio as Minister. As I mentioned, this is one of the new things that is coming forward, and it's crucially important that we recognise, with the growth in data centres in Wales, that there is a need for a policy framework that is robust, and one that is going to be useful for the future. Probably we need to do that in a way that provides a balance between the economic benefits, but also recognises the real concerns that people have on a community level, and also the concern about the use of energy and water and so forth, and land use. I think that Adam Price has set out last week that we will be bringing a policy forward as soon as possible. Clearly, it's not appropriate for me to comment on the specific scheme that you've mentioned.

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6. 5. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: The Revision of the National Development Framework and National Conversation cy

   Diolch yn fawr iawn. Dwi'n cydymdeimlo efo'r hyn rydych chi'n ei ddweud. Mae'r broses gynllunio'n cymryd gormod o amser. Mae'r broses gynllunio'n gymhleth. Dydy llais y gymuned ddim yn cael ei chlywed digon o fewn y broses o ddatblygu cynlluniau datblygu lleol, er enghraifft. Mi fedrwn i fynd ymlaen ac ymlaen. Rydych chi fel cynghorydd lleol wedi dod ar draws y rhwystredigaeth yna pan ydym ni'n ceisio cael datblygiadau i ddigwydd. Mae'n rhaid dweud, wrth gwrs, fod adrannau cynllunio—. Heb sôn am y broses ei hun, mae adrannau cynllunio o dan bwysau sylweddol yn ein cynghorau sir ni. Un o ganlyniadau blynyddoedd o dorri ar wasanaethau cyhoeddus ydy torri ar wasanaethau cynllunio ac ar wasanaethau o'r math yna er mwyn, wrth gwrs, gwarchod addysg a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol ac ati. Felly, mae gen i gydymdeimlad mawr efo'r crebachu sydd wedi digwydd ar ein hunedau cynllunio ni ar lawr gwlad, ac mae'r Sefydliad Cynllunio Trefol Brenhinol wedi tynnu sylw mewn adroddiad diweddar at hyn ac yn bryderus nad oes gennym ni ddigon o gyflenwad o gynllunwyr yn dod trwy'r system, hyd yn oed pe baem ni'n newid y broses, er mwyn medru delio efo'r gwaith. Mi ydym ni fel Llywodraeth yn ceisio gwneud rhyw fymryn ynghylch hynny, ac rydym ni wedi cefnogi'r gwaith o hyfforddi cynllunwyr cymwys newydd ledled Cymru ac wedi creu cynllun bwrsariaeth newydd hefyd ar y cyd efo Cyngor Sir Ceredigion i greu hyd at 12 o gynllunwyr cymwys ychwanegol mewn ardaloedd gwledig, lle mae'r heriau recriwtio hyd yn oed yn waeth. Felly, cytuno efo rhan o beth rydych chi'n ei ddweud; pwyntio allan, wrth gwrs, fod yna broblemau o fewn y system fel mae hi ar hyn o bryd, ond mae yna gyfle gwych i chi rŵan i roi eich sylwadau i mewn yn yr ymgynghoriad—a ddim jest rhoi o yn yr ymgynghoriad, ysgrifennwch ataf i, pawb ohonoch chi, efo syniadau ymarferol o sut rydym ni'n gallu cael datblygiadau i ddod yn eu blaenau'n gynt nag y maen nhw ar hyn o bryd.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much. I do sympathise with your comments. The planning process does take too long. The planning process is complex. The voice of the community isn't heard sufficiently within the process of the development of local development plans, for example. I could go on and on. You as a local councillor will have come across some of those frustrations when we try and get developments through. I have to say, of course, that planning departments—. Never mind the process itself, the planning departments are under significant pressure in our local authorities. One of the outcomes of years of cuts in public services is cuts to planning services and services of those kinds in order to protect education and social services and so on. So, I have great sympathy with the decline in our planning departments on the ground, and the Royal Town Planning Institute has drawn attention to this in a recent report and is very concerned that we don't have an adequate supply of planners coming through the system, even if we were to change the process, in order to deal with the level of work. Now, we as a Government are trying to do something to address that issue, and we've supported the work of training new qualified planners across Wales and have created a new bursary scheme jointly with Ceredigion County Council in order to create up to an additional 12 qualified planners in rural areas, where the recruitment challenges are even greater. So, I agree with some of what you said; I would point out, of course, that there are problems within the system as it's constituted at the moment, but there's now a wonderful opportunity for you to submit your ideas into the consultation—and not just the consultation, write to me, each and every one of you, with your practical ideas as to how we can get developments to move forward more quickly than they do at the moment.

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7. 5. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: The Revision of the National Development Framework and National Conversation cy

   Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiynau yna. Dwi'n meddwl bod yna ddwy ran i'ch cwestiwn chi. Yn gyntaf, ynglŷn ag ymgysylltu ynglŷn â'r broses benodol yma o greu fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol newydd, dwi'n cytuno'n llwyr efo chi: mae rhaid inni wneud ymdrech fawr i gyrraedd pawb ar draws Cymru fel bod llais pawb yn cael ei chlywed. Fel roeddwn i'n dweud, rownd gyntaf ydy'r ymgysylltu sydd yn digwydd cyn y Nadolig, ac mae'r rheini wedi bod yn ddigwyddiadau, neu maen nhw'n ddigwyddiadau, sydd yn cael eu hyrwyddo drwy grwpiau trydydd sector fel Cymorth Cynllunio Cymru, er enghraifft, i annog cymaint o bobl i gymryd rhan ynddyn nhw. Wrth i ni symud i gamau nesaf y broses, dwi yn awyddus iawn i edrych ar hwyluso'r ymgysylltiad yn union fel rydych chi'n sôn amdano fo, efo mwy o ffocws ar y grwpiau hynny sy'n anoddach i'w cyrraedd, yn enwedig, efallai, mewn cymunedau sy'n wynebu mwy o heriau costau byw, er enghraifft. Felly, byddwn i'n meddwl o ddifrif ynglŷn â'r ail gam o'r ymgynghori. O ran eich cwestiwn mwy eang chi ynglŷn â sut i gael mwy o bobl i gymryd rhan yn y broses gynllunio drwyddi draw ac i gymryd diddordeb yn yr hyn sy'n digwydd, dwi yn meddwl bod yna gyfle o fewn datblygu cynlluniau datblygu lleol i lais y gymuned allu cael ei chlywed llawer iawn yn gynt ac yn fwy pwerus, yn fwy grymus, o fewn y broses honno. Pan mae o'n gweithio, pan mae'r gymuned wedi bod yn ymwybodol o'u gallu nhw i helpu siapio dyfodol eu cymunedau nhw—. Dwi wedi ei weld o ar waith, yn digwydd mewn ffordd sydd yn caniatáu datblygiadau tai, er enghraifft, sydd efallai'n gallu bod yn gynhennus mewn rhai ardaloedd, ond os ydy pobl wedi bod yn rhan o'r broses o'r cychwyn cyntaf mae llawer iawn o'r pryderon yn diflannu. Ac felly, dwi yn awyddus i edrych ar yr agwedd yna yn benodol. Felly, diolch i chi am dynnu sylw at hynny.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much for those questions. I think there were two parts to your contribution there. First of all, in terms of engagement and this particular process of creating a new national development framework, I agree entirely with you that we must make a great effort to reach everyone across Wales so that everyone's voice is heard. As I mentioned, this engagement is just the first round, in terms of what will happen before Christmas, and those events have been and are being promoted through third sector groups such as Planning Aid Wales to encourage as many people as possible to participate. As we move to the next phases of the process, I am very eager to look at facilitating that engagement just as you mentioned, with a greater focus on those harder to reach groups, particularly, perhaps, in communities facing more cost-of-living challenges, for example. So, I will be thinking seriously about that second phase of the consultation. In terms of your broader question as to how we encourage more people to participate in the planning process more generally and to take an interest in what's happening, I do think that there is an opportunity within the development of LDPs to ensure that the community voice can be heard at an earlier stage and more powerfully within that process. When it works, when the community is made aware and is involved in shaping the future of their communities—. I've seen it in action, happening in a way that allows housing developments that perhaps could be contentious in certain areas, but if people have been involved in the process from the outset then many of those concerns can be allayed. And therefore, I am eager to look at that aspect specifically. So, thank you for highlighting those issues.

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8. 5. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: The Revision of the National Development Framework and National Conversation cy

   Dwi'n cytuno'n llwyr efo chi, fel rhywun sydd yn cynrychioli ardal yn yr union le rydych chi'n sôn amdano fo yn y gogledd-orllewin, ac wedi bod yn cynrychioli'r ardal, ac â'r fraint o gael gwneud hynny, ers dros 10 mlynedd bellach. Felly, peidiwch â sôn wrthyf fi am y ffaith bod cymunedau yn y gogledd-orllewin yn teimlo weithiau eu bod nhw'n cael eu hanghofio. Dydy'r Llywodraeth yma ddim yn mynd i fod yn anghofio'r un gymuned ar draws Cymru. Dyna'r weledigaeth, yn y pen draw, gobeithio, fydd yn gallu cael ei datblygu fel rhan o'r fframwaith newydd yma—fod pob rhan o Gymru yn bwysig a bod angen dosbarthu cyfoeth, dosbarthu'r twf economaidd a chyfleon economaidd ar draws Cymru i gyrraedd bob rhan. Ie, mae'n mynd i gymryd sbel, achos rydym ni'n sôn am rywbeth sydd yn bwysig iawn—dyfodol ein gwlad ni. Fedrwn ni ddim jest wneud o mewn wythnos neu ddwy; mae'n rhaid inni fod yn cael y sgyrsiau yna a dod â phobl efo ni yn ystod y sgyrsiau yna. Ond dydy hynna ddim yn golygu nad ydym ni'n gwneud pethau eraill hefyd. Yfory nesaf, dwi yn cyfarfod y tasglu canol trefi, sydd yn ymgynnull am y tro cyntaf a bydd yn dod ag argymhellion clir erbyn dechrau flwyddyn nesaf ynglŷn â rhai o'r heriau sy'n wynebu canol ein trefi ni, efo argymhellion am ffyrdd o weithredu er mwyn gwella ein strydoedd mawr ni. Ac mae yna nifer o faterion fel yna yn digwydd wrth i ni siarad. Dwi wedi sôn am y tasglu, dwi wedi sôn am dai cymdeithasol, mae yna waith yn digwydd ynglŷn ag uwchraddio tai, retrofit ac yn y blaen—ac mae hwnna jest yn fy mhortffolio fi. Gall bob un Gweinidog sôn wrthoch chi am o leiaf 10 o bethau maen nhw heddiw yn gweithio arnyn nhw, yn gweithio i newid. Ond mae'n rhaid inni feddwl am y pen draw a'r dyfodol hefyd a pheidio ag anghofio, yng nghanol gwneud y pethau dydd i ddydd pwysig iawn yma sydd yn gwella bywydau pobl, fod rhaid inni gael gweledigaeth glir ar gyfer adeiladu ein gwlad ni i fod yn wlad sydd yn ffit ar gyfer y dyfodol, ac sydd yn crynhoi dyheadau pawb yma inni fod yn llawer mwy uchelgeisiol yn sut rydym ni'n mynd ati i gynllunio ac i drefnu'n hunain i'r dyfodol. Diolch.

   Official English translation

   I agree entirely with you, as one who represents an area in the very area that you've mentioned in the north-west of Wales, and having represented the area, and having had the privilege of doing so, for over 10 years now. So, you don't need to tell me that communities in the north-west sometimes feel that they are forgotten. This Government won't be forgetting those communities or any community across Wales. That is the vision, ultimately, that I hope can be developed as part of this new framework—that every part of Wales is important and that we need to distribute wealth and economic growth and opportunities across Wales so that we reach every part of the country. Yes, it's going to take a while, because we are talking about something that is hugely important—the future of our nation. We can't just do it in a week or two; we do have to have those conversations and we need to bring people with us on that journey. But that doesn't mean that we aren't doing other things too. Just tomorrow, I will be meeting the town-centre taskforce, which will be gathering for the first time and that will bring clear recommendations forward by the beginning of next year on some of the challenges facing our town centres, with recommendations on ways of taking action in order to improve our high streets. And there are a number of other, similar issues that are ongoing as we speak. I've mentioned the taskforce, I've mentioned social housing, there is work happening on retrofitting homes and so on—and that's just in my portfolio. Every Minister can talk to you about at least 10 other things that they are working on today in order to deliver change. But we do have to think of the destination and the future too and not forget, in the midst of those day-to-day important things that we're doing to improve people's lives, that we have to also have a clear vision for building our nation so that it is a nation that is fit for the future, and that brings together the aspirations of everyone here so that we can be far more ambitious in how we go about planning for the future. Thank you.

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1. 7. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: Building Safety Programme Update cy

   Diolch yn fawr, Ddirprwy Lywydd, a diolch am y cyfle i ddiweddaru'r Aelodau am y rhaglen diogelwch adeiladau. Byddaf yn sôn am y camau y mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn eu cymryd i amddiffyn lesddeiliaid a sicrhau bod y cartrefi sydd o dan y rhaglen yn ddiogel, a bod y bobl sy'n byw ynddyn nhw yn cael eu trin efo'r tegwch a'r urddas y maen nhw yn eu haeddu. Rydyn ni'n gwybod bod person, ac yn aml teulu cyfan, y tu ôl i bob ystadegyn. Mae lesddeiliaid ledled Cymru wedi wynebu blynyddoedd o ansicrwydd. Mae llawer wedi methu â gwerthu eu cartrefi. Mae llawer wedi gweld cynigion am forgais yn cael eu tynnu'n ôl, premiymau yswiriant yn codi a chodi, a'u cynlluniau'n cael eu rhwystro neu eu rhoi ar stop. Dyma realiti bywyd sydd wedi achosi caledi go iawn a straen aruthrol i bobl gyffredin sydd heb wneud dim byd ond prynu cartref gyda phob bwriad da. Dwi am fod yn glir iawn y prynhawn yma: dydy'r cynnydd o ran y gwaith cyweirio ddim wedi symud yn ddigon cyflym. A dwi'n cydnabod y rhwystredigaeth a'r anobaith y mae hynny wedi'i achosi i lawer. Nid lesddeiliaid sydd wedi creu'r sefyllfa hon ac nid nhw ddylai orfod ysgwyddo'r baich.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you for the opportunity to update Members on the building safety programme. I will talk about the steps that the Government is taking to protect leaseholders and to ensure that the homes covered by the programme are safe, and that those living in them are treated with the fairness and the dignity they deserve. We know that there is a person, and often a whole family, behind every statistic. Leaseholders across Wales have faced years of uncertainty. Many have been unable to sell their homes. Many have seen mortgage offers being withdrawn, they've seen insurance premiums spiral, and they've had their life plans hampered or put on hold. This is the lived reality that has caused genuine hardship and profound stress for ordinary people who did nothing beyond buying a home in good faith. I want to be really clear this afternoon: the progress in terms of the remediation work has not moved quickly enough. And I recognise the frustration and the hopelessness that this has caused to many. Leaseholders did not create this situation and they should not be made to bear its weight.

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2. 7. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: Building Safety Programme Update cy

   Ers derbyn y rôl yma yn Llywodraeth Cymru, dwi wedi cwrdd â lesddeiliaid a gwrando ar eu straeon, ac mae'r hyn dwi wedi'i glywed ganddyn nhw wedi fy nghyffwrdd i. Mae eu hanesion nhw wedi aros efo mi, ac maen nhw wedi siapio fy mhenderfyniad i weithredu ar eu rhan. A dyna pam dwi'n falch o gyhoeddi heddiw lansio grant larymau fel mesur interim Cymru. Bydd y grant yma yn rhoi cymorth ariannol i lesddeiliaid sy'n wynebu costau systemau larwm dros dro sydd eu hangen i gefnogi polisi gwagio adeiladau cydamserol. Bydd rhagor o fanylion am gymhwysedd a sut y gall pobl gael gafael ar y cymorth ar gael yn fuan, ac mi fyddaf i'n sicrhau bod y wybodaeth hon yn cyrraedd y bobl berthnasol cyn gynted â phosibl. A dwi yn gobeithio y bydd y cyhoeddiad yma yn gwneud gwahaniaeth arwyddocaol i lesddeiliaid sy'n ysgwyddo costau mesurau interim.  Gan droi at Ddeddf Diogelwch Adeiladau (Cymru) 2026, dwi'n falch o ddweud bod y gwaith yn symud yn ei flaen yn dda. Mae'r Ddeddf yn gam mawr ymlaen o ran cyflwyno diwygiadau parhaol i wneud adeiladau yng Nghymru yn fwy diogel. Mae'r Ddeddf yn cryfhau'r fframwaith rheoleiddio ar gyfer adeiladau preswyl amlfeddiannaeth ac yn cyflwyno gofynion cymhwysedd newydd ar gyfer aseswyr risg tân. Mae'r Ddeddf hefyd yn creu mecanweithiau cadarnach i ddwyn perchnogion adeiladau i gyfrif, ac yn rhoi llais cryfach i drigolion mewn materion sy'n effeithio ar eu diogelwch. Mae pawb yn gwybod beth ydy fy marn i erbyn hyn, sef na ddylid disgwyl i lesddeiliaid dalu am gostau cyweirio na wnaethon nhw eu hachosi. A dwi yn credu, lle bynnag y bo'n bosibl, mai'r bobl sydd wedi datblygu, comisiynu neu elwa ar adeiladau anniogel ddylai fod yn gyfrifol. Dyna pam y gwnes i weithio'n galed i sicrhau bod y Ddeddf yn cynnwys darpariaethau sy'n caniatáu i bartïon â diddordeb wneud cais i'r tribiwnlys eiddo preswyl am orchmynion cyweirio a gorchmynion cyfraniadau cyweirio sy'n ymdrin â diffygion diogelwch tân a strwythurol. Daeth yr ymgynghoriad ar y rheoliadau sydd eu hangen i gynnal yr elfen hon o'r drefn i ben yn gynharach y mis yma, a dwi'n gobeithio gosod y rheoliadau cyn toriad y Nadolig. Dros y flwyddyn nesaf, mi fyddwn ni'n parhau i ymgynghori ar y rheoliadau sydd eu hangen i gynnal y drefn ehangach fel rhan o'n hamserlen weithredu arfaethedig. Ac rydyn ni'n rhagweld y bydd cofrestru adeiladau categori 1 yn dechrau ym mis Rhagfyr 2027. Mi fyddaf i'n diweddaru'r Aelodau wrth i'r rhaglen weithredu fynd yn ei blaen. Mae'r Ddeddf yn ategu'r rhaglen ddiwygio helaeth sydd wedi'i chyflwyno'n barod drwy Ddeddf Diogelwch Adeiladau 2022 y Deyrnas Unedig, a'r is-ddeddfwriaeth ddilynol, a hynny'n sail i'r drefn reolaeth adeiladu newydd a ddaeth i rym ym mis Gorffennaf. Mae'r drefn newydd yn cryfhau atebolrwydd i ddeiliaid dyletswydd, ac yn ymgorffori'r gofynion cymhwysedd uwch ar gyfer arolygwyr cofrestredig adeiladu a chymeradwywyr cofrestredig rheolaeth adeiladu. Cafodd dogfen gymeradwyo B o'r rheoliadau adeiladu ei newid y llynedd hefyd. Mi fydd yr Aelodau'n gwybod yn iawn mai trasiedi tŵr Grenfell ydy'r cyd-destun ar gyfer ein rhaglen diogelwch adeiladau gyfan. Wrth i ni gofio am y 72 o bobl a fu farw, hoffwn i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y gwaith sy'n cael ei wneud i weithredu argymhellion ymchwiliad tŵr Grenfell. Mae dros chwarter yr argymhellion bellach wedi cael eu rhoi ar waith yng Nghymru, a dwi’n disgwyl i hynny ddyblu erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn. Rydyn ni'n delio â llawer o'r argymhellion drwy'r newidiadau deddfwriaethol dwi eisoes wedi sôn amdanyn nhw. Yn ogystal, rydyn ni'n cymryd camau i wella parodrwydd ar gyfer argyfyngau ac ymgorffori gwersi Grenfell ar draws y system. Yn olaf, fe wnaf i ddychwelyd at ein rhaglen gyweirio. Yr wythnos diwethaf, fe wnes i gyfarfod â datblygwyr sydd wedi llofnodi contract Llywodraeth Cymru. Y Llywodraeth flaenorol oedd hynny. Fe wnes i bwysleisio bod yn rhaid i'r holl rwymedigaethau o dan y contract gael eu bodloni neu mi fyddaf i'n ystyried pob cam gorfodi posib mewn perthynas ag unrhyw fethiannau. Dwi wedi ymrwymo i sicrhau bod y gwaith cyweirio yn cyflymu ac i ddwyn datblygwyr i gyfrif. Mi fyddaf i'n parhau i ddiweddaru cydweithwyr wrth i'r rhaglen fynd yn ei blaen, a dwi'n croesawu'r gwaith craffu gan Aelodau, a fydd yn ein helpu ni i wneud hyn yn iawn er lles pobl Cymru. Diolch.

   Official English translation

   Since taking up this role in the Welsh Government, I have met leaseholders and I've listened to their stories, and what I've heard from them has truly moved me. Their accounts have stayed with me, and they have shaped my determination to take action on their behalf. That is why I am pleased to announce today the launch of the Wales interim measures alarm grant. This grant will provide financial support to leaseholders who are facing the costs of interim alarm systems that are required to support a simultaneous evacuation policy. Further detail on eligibility and how people can access the support will be available shortly, and I will ensure that this information reaches the relevant people as quickly as possible. And I do hope that this announcement will make a meaningful difference to leaseholders who are shouldering the costs of interim measures.   Turning to the Building Safety (Wales) Act 2026, I'm pleased to say that we are making steady progress with implementation. The Act marks a major step forward in delivering lasting building safety reform in Wales. The Act strengthens the regulatory framework for multi-occupied residential buildings and it introduces new competence requirements for fire risk assessors. The Act also creates stronger mechanisms to hold building owners to account, and it gives residents a stronger voice in matters affecting their safety. Everyone knows what my view is now, which is that leaseholders should not be expected to pay for remediation costs that they did not cause. And I do believe that, wherever possible, the people who developed, commissioned or profited from unsafe buildings should be responsible. And that's why I worked hard to ensure that the Act did include provisions that allow interested parties to apply to the residential property tribunal for remediation orders and remediation contribution orders covering fire and structural safety defects. The consultation on the regulations that are needed to support this element of the regime closed earlier this month, and I hope to the lay regulations before the Christmas recess. Over the coming year, we’ll continue consulting on the regulations that are required to underpin the wider regime as part of our planned implementation schedule. And we anticipate that the registration of category 1 buildings will begin in December 2027. I'll keep Members updated as the implementation programme progresses. The Act complements the extensive programme of reform already delivered through the UK Building Safety Act 2022, as well as the subsequent secondary legislation, and that underpins the new building control regime that came into force in July. The new regime strengthens accountability for duty holders and it embeds the enhanced competence requirements for registered building inspectors and registered building control approvers. Amendments were also made to approved document B of the building regulations last year. Members will be very well aware the Grenfell tower tragedy is the backdrop to our entire building safety programme. As we remember the 72 people who lost their lives, I would like to provide an update on the progress being made to implement the recommendations of the Grenfell tower inquiry. Over a quarter of the recommendations have now been implemented in Wales, and I expect that number to double by the end of the year. We are addressing many of the recommendations through the legislative changes I have already spoken about. Additionally, we've taken action to strengthen emergency preparedness and to embed the lessons from Grenfell across the system. Finally, I'll return to our remediation programme. Last week, I met with developers who have signed up to the Welsh Government contract. That was the previous Government's contract. I emphasised that all obligations under the contract must be met or I will consider all appropriate enforcement avenues in relation to any failures. I am committed to accelerating the pace of remediation and to holding developers to account. I will continue to update colleagues as the programme progresses, and I welcome the scrutiny work from Members, which will help us to get this right for the people of Wales. Thank you.

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3. 7. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: Building Safety Programme Update cy

   Diolch yn fawr, a diolch am nifer o gwestiynau pwysig, ac mi fyddaf i'n ceisio eu hateb nhw fesul un. Dwi'n cytuno'n llwyr efo chi, dydy'r cynnydd ddim wedi digwydd yn ddigon cyflym, a bai'r datblygwyr ydy hynny. Nhw sydd i fod i wneud y gwaith cyweirio ar yr adeiladau yma yng Nghymru. Fe gawson nhw'r neges yna'n glir gen i yr wythnos diwethaf. Mi wnes i gyfarfod efo'r 11 datblygwr—.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much, and thank you for asking a number of important questions, and I will seek to take them one at a time. I agree entirely with you that progress hasn't happened swiftly enough, and that is the fault of the developers. They are supposed to carry out the remediation work on these buildings in Wales. They received that message clearly from me just last week. I met with the 11 developers—.

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4. 7. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: Building Safety Programme Update en

   I met the 11 developers last week, and my message to them was very, very clear. The message was that the pace of delivery is simply not good enough. And I said that if I don't see progress, as outlined in the contract that they signed with the previous Government by the end of this year, I will be bringing their names forward here in the Senedd. I will be taking action. And I think that that is one route that I can definitely tell you about, because I've told them, and that that will happen within this year as we look at the progress reports. I'm hoping that that's not going to happen. I hope that they will really ramp up the work. Because we all want to see the leaseholders feeling protected and feeling safe in their places, in their apartments and what have you. In terms of the data, I can absolutely give you the latest data, which, as you say, is not good enough, but I can give you the data. So, there are 161 buildings in the programme. By now, 11 buildings have been completed or they didn't need work in the first place. I understand that there are two or three others very, very near to that point as well. Work is progressing on 71 of those buildings, but there's work that's being talked about, but hasn't started yet, on 65 buildings, and there are 14 that are awaiting the reviews. So, it's not good enough, and I agree with you on that.

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5. 7. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: Building Safety Programme Update cy

   Roeddech chi'n sôn am ddatblygiad penodol yn fanna, yn eich cyfraniad. Dwi'n awgrymu bod yr Aelodau yn cymryd cyfle i ddod i'r briffiad technegol y mae fy swyddogion yn mynd i fod yn cynnal. Bydd cyfle yr amser hynny ichi drafod adeiladau unigol. Yn amlwg, dwi ddim yn mynd i fedru mynd i mewn i bob un o'r sefyllfaoedd, y 161 adeilad, yn fan hyn heddiw, ond mae yna sesiwn friffio i Aelodau ar y gweill. Ac mae'r rheina'n mynd i gael eu cynnal—un yr wythnos yma ac un yr wythnos nesaf. So, mae yna gyfle i bobl ddod a dod â'u cwestiynau ymlaen efo hynny i gyd. O ran y grant ei hun, dwi'n falch eich bod chi'n croesawu'r grant, achos mae hwn wedi bod yn bryder i nifer o lesddeiliaid, fod y costau o roi'r systemau larwm dros dro i mewn yn yr adeiladau tra bod y gwaith yn digwydd—. Mae rhai ohonyn nhw wedi ffeindio mai nhw sy'n gorfod talu, a dydy hynna ddim yn deg. Dydy hynna ddim yn deg. Mae yna rai datblygwyr wedi talu amdano fo, ond mae yna rai sefyllfaoedd lle dydy hynna ddim wedi digwydd. Mi fydd y grant ar gael—mi fydd y ceisiadau yn agor yn fuan iawn ar gyfer hynny, a'r asiant neu'r person, yr endid cyfrifol, fydd efo'r hawl i wneud y cais yna am y grant, nid y datblygwyr. Y bobl sy'n gweithredu ar ran y llesddeiliaid fydd yn gallu gwneud y cais penodol yna. O ran y rheoliadau, fel dwi'n dweud, dwi wedi symud yn sydyn ar gael y rheoliadau. Dwi yr un mor rhwystredig â chi am arafwch symud pethau ymlaen, ond byddai'r rheoliadau yna ddim yna o gwbl heblaw am y gwaith y gwnaethom ni ei wneud wrth graffu'r Bil, mewn cydweithrediad efo'r cyn-Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ar y pryd. Felly, mae'r hawl i fynd i dribiwnlys i hawlio arian yn ôl—. Mae'n rhaid gosod y rheoliadau, ac wedyn mae'n rhaid—. Fel dŷch chi'n dweud, mae'n rhwystredig nad ydym ni'n gallu cychwyn arno fo yn syth, ond mi ddaw i fodolaeth.

   Official English translation

   You mentioned a particular development there in your contribution. I would suggest that Members take the opportunity to come to the technical briefing that my officials will be providing. There will be an opportunity at that point for you to discuss individual buildings. Clearly, I can't go into every single example, in terms of the 161 buildings, here today, but there will be a Members' briefing session held. And those sessions will be held—one this week and one next week. So, there's an opportunity for people to bring their questions forward in that forum too. In terms of the grant itself, I'm pleased that you've welcomed that, because this has been a concern for many leaseholders, that the costs of putting the temporary alarm systems in place in these buildings while the work is ongoing—. In some cases, leaseholders have had to pay, and that isn't fair. That isn't fair. There are some developers who have paid for it, but there are other scenarios where that hasn't been the case. The grant will be available, and the application process will open very soon for that, and the agent or the responsible body will have that responsibility to make that application, not the developer. It'll be people acting on behalf of the leaseholders who will be able to make that particular application. In terms of the regulations, as I've said, I've moved swiftly in getting those regulations in place. I am just as frustrated as you about the slow progress here, but those regulations wouldn't be there at all if it wasn't for the work that we did in scrutinising the Bill, in collaboration with the former Cabinet Secretary. So, the right to go to tribunal to claim money back—. We do have to have those regulations in place, and then we have to—. As you say, it is frustrating that we can't start that immediately, but it will come in due course.

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6. 7. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: Building Safety Programme Update cy

   Diolch yn fawr iawn i'r cyn-Weinidog, neu Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, a oedd yn gyfrifol am lywio, yn ddeheuig iawn, y Bil sydd bellach yn Ddeddf yn ystod y Senedd ddiwethaf, ac roeddwn i'n falch iawn o gydweithio efo chi. Ac, ie, fel dŷch chi'n ein hatgoffa ni, roedd o'r tro cyntaf i'r Senedd weithredu yn y ffordd hollol gynhwysol yna a phasio'r ddeddfwriaeth yn unfrydol. Mae hi yn fwriad gen i i geisio gweithio yn yr un ffordd efo pawb yn y Siambr yma. Mi fyddwch chi'n gwybod ein bod ni wedi ymrwymo i ddod â deddfwriaeth newydd i mewn yn y maes tai—nifer o Filiau penodol—er mwyn rhoi gwell gwarchodaeth i rentwyr, ac i edrych yn union ar ba fath o fesurau sydd eu hangen arnom ni yng Nghymru wrth inni symud ymlaen. A dwi yn gobeithio y gallwn ni weithio efo'n gilydd, bawb ohonom ni, er mwyn efelychu'r dull a ddefnyddiwyd yn ystod y Senedd ddiwethaf. Dwi'n edrych ymlaen at gael cyfarfodydd cychwynnol efo'r llefaryddion er mwyn inni fod yn egluro sut dŷn ni'n bwriadu symud ymlaen efo deddfwriaeth—ddim yn y maes yma, yn amlwg, ond yn y maes tai yn fwy cyffredinol. Dŷch chi'n hollol iawn, mae'r ddeddfwriaeth yma yng Nghymru yn eang ei sgôp, ac mae'n cyd-fynd, wrth gwrs, efo'r ddeddfwriaeth a basiwyd yn Lloegr, ond mae'n adeiladu ar hynny ac yn dod ag elfennau gwahanol i mewn—diogelwch a phwy sy'n atebol, ond hefyd, ie, llais y trigolion. Dwi'n meddwl ei bod hi'n hollbwysig inni gydnabod llais y trigolion yn hyn oll, a phwysigrwydd eu cynnwys nhw wrth inni symud ymlaen. Felly, dwi yn bwriadu cyhoeddi cyn bo hir y byddwn ni'n sefydlu fforwm ar gyfer llesddeiliaid, a bydd mater diogelwch adeiladu yn rhywbeth pwysig y bydd y fforwm yna yn ei drafod. Mae hwnna yn adeiladu ar y gwaith a oedd yn digwydd yn ystod cyfnod y Llywodraeth ddiwethaf. Dwi'n gwerthfawrogi'n fawr iawn fy mod i wedi cael cyfle i glywed yn uniongyrchol gan y Cladiators fel grŵp ymgyrchu, sydd wedi bod yn ddiflino yn sôn am y gwaith sydd angen ei brysuro. Y bore yma, fe ges i gyfle hefyd i gyfarfod cynrychiolwyr o lesddeiliaid y Sand Wharf yng Nghaerdydd a Swansea Point yn Abertawe, a chlywed yn uniongyrchol ganddyn nhw beth mae'r profiad presennol yn ei olygu i lesddeiliaid a'r pryder y mae o'n ei achosi. Ac yn sicr, mae siarad efo nhw a siarad efo'r pwyllgor hefyd—. Wrth inni fynd yn ein blaenau, dwi'n gobeithio y bydd y pwyllgor llywodraeth leol yn helpu i graffu'r rheoliadau i wneud yn union beth dŷch chi'n awgrymu, sef i wneud y rheoliadau sydd yn mynd i orwedd o dan y ddeddfwriaeth rŵan i wneud yn siŵr bod hynna'n glir a bod y rheini'n bwrpasol. Felly, mae'r gwaith yna. Mae yna lot o waith i'w wneud o dan y Ddeddf, ddim jyst pasio'r Ddeddf—mae yna gymaint o waith sydd angen digwydd o dan hynny, ac mae gennym ni amserlen ar ei gyfer o. Ond y peth cyntaf un gwnes i wneud oedd dod â'r ymgynghoriad ynglŷn â rheoliadau ynglŷn â chostau cyweirio, achos roeddwn i'n ymwybodol bod hwnna'n pwyso yn fawr ar nifer fawr o bobl. O ran y gweithlu arbenigol sydd ei angen, yn sicr, mae hwnna'n rhywbeth rydym ni'n rhoi sylw iddo fo. Fel rydych chi'n gwybod, mae adrannau rheolaeth adeiladu ac adrannau cynllunio wedi colli gweithwyr, wedi colli staff, dros gyfnod hir rŵan, ac, yn sicr, rydym ni'n rhoi sylw i hynny o ran sut medrwn ni ddod â'r arbenigedd penodol yna yn ôl. Wrth gwrs, y syniad ydy bod yna dri awdurdod yn arwain ar y gwaith yma, a dwi'n meddwl drwy wneud o fel yna—ac roeddwn i'n falch o gefnogi'r gwelliant yna ar gyfer y Bil hefyd—o'i wneud o mewn ffordd sydd wedi—. Dydyn ddim yn disgwyl i'r 22 awdurdod lleol gymryd y baich yma yn unigol. Rydym ni'n mynd i wneud o mewn ffordd ranbarthol, ac felly dwi'n meddwl bydd hwnna'n creu'r gweithlu arbenigol rydym ni'n mynd i fod ei angen. Diolch.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much to the former Minister, or Cabinet Secretary, who was responsible for steering, very agilely, the Bill that is now an Act during the last Senedd, and I was very pleased to work together with you. And, yes, as you remind us, it was the first time for this Senedd to operate in that entirely inclusive, collaborative way and to pass that legislation unanimously. It is my intention to try and work in that same way with everyone in this Chamber. You will know that we have committed to bring forward new legislation in the area of housing—a number of specific Bills—in order to give better protections to renters, and to look at exactly what kinds of measures are needed here in Wales as we move forward. And I do hope that we can work together, every one of us, in order to follow the same approach that we followed in the last Senedd. I look forward to having initial meetings with party spokespeople in order for us to explain how we intend to move forward with the legislation—not in this area, clearly, but in the area of housing more generally. You are quite right, this legislation in Wales is very broad in its scope, and it aligns, of course, with the legislation that was passed in England, but it builds on that and brings different elements in—safety and who is accountable, but also, yes, the residents' voice. I think it is crucial that we acknowledge the residents' voice in all of this, and the importance of including them as we move forward. So, I do intend to announce shortly that we will establish a forum for leaseholders, and the issue of building safety will be something very important that that forum will be discussing. That builds on the work that was happening during the last Government. I very much appreciate that I had the opportunity to hear directly from the Cladiators as a campaign group, who have been tirelessly campaigning and talking about the work that needs to happen at pace. This morning, I also had an opportunity to meet with representatives from the leaseholders of the Sand Wharf in Cardiff and Swansea Point in Swansea, and to hear directly from them about what the current experience means for leaseholders and the concern and the worry that it causes. And certainly, speaking with them and speaking with the committee as well—. As we move forward, I hope that the local government committee will help us to scrutinise the regulations to do exactly what you suggest, which is to make regulations that will lie under the legislation now to make sure that that is clear and that those regulations are suitable. So, there is that work. There is a lot of work to do under this Act; it's not just passing the Act—there is so much work that needs to happen underneath that, and we do have a timetable for that. But the very first thing that I did was to bring forward that consultation on regulations about the costs of remediation, because I was aware that that was something that was weighing very heavily on a great number of people. In terms of the expert, specialist workforce that's needed, certainly that is something that we are giving due attention to. As you know, building control departments and planning departments have lost workers, have lost staff, over a long period of time now, and, certainly, we are paying attention to that and how we can bring that expertise back in. Of course, the idea is that there would be three authorities leading on this work, and I think by doing it in that way—and I was pleased to support that amendment to the Bill as well—in doing it in that way—. We aren't expecting all 22 local authorities to take on this burden individually. We're going to do it in a regional way, and I think that that will create the specialist workforce that we are going to need. Thank you.

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7. 7. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: Building Safety Programme Update cy

   Diolch yn fawr iawn, Peter, am y cwestiynau yna. Wrth gwrs, dwi’n cytuno'n llwyr efo chi: mae’n rhaid gweld gweithredu. Dyna sydd yn bwysig yn fan hyn, a dyna pam roeddwn i wedi cynnal y cyfarfod efo datblygwyr wythnos diwethaf, er mwyn pwyso’r neges glir yna ein bod ni yn disgwyl gweld cynnydd, a chynnydd ar gyflymder, er mwyn lles y bobl sydd yn byw efo pryder parhaus oherwydd eu bod nhw'n cael eu hatgoffa drwy'r amser am beth ddigwyddodd yn Grenfell. A dwi'n meddwl ei bod hi'n bwysig—. Diolch i chi am sôn am hynny. Mae'n bwysig inni gofio pam rydym ni yn gwneud y gwaith yma. Mae o'n deillio nôl i'r drasiedi yna saith mlynedd yn ôl, bellach. Felly, dyna oedd fy neges i'r datblygwyr. Dwi yn atebol i'r lesddeiliaid. Dwi ddim yn atebol i'r datblygwyr. Y lesddeiliaid sydd ar fy meddwl i, a drwoch chi yn y Senedd dwi'n atebol iddyn nhw hefyd, a dyna pam byddaf i'n dod ag adroddiadau cynnydd i chi yn fan hyn. Ac mae'r monitro agos yna yn digwydd. Mae fy swyddogion i yn siarad efo'r datblygwyr yn barhaus ac yn ceisio eu helpu nhw i gael gwared ar rai o'r rhwystrau sydd yna. Ond, ar ddiwedd y dydd, mae’n rhaid iddyn nhw gymryd eu cyfrifoldeb o ddifri, a dwi yn gobeithio gweld cynnydd erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn. Dyna oedd yn y contract gan y Llywodraeth flaenorol. Roedden nhw'n disgwyl gweld y gwaith wedi’i ddechrau gan bob datblygwr erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn yma. Rydym ni'n bell o hynny, ond dyna'r disgwyliad dwi'n gosod arnyn nhw, ac, os nad ydy hynny'n digwydd, dwi wedi egluro byddaf i yn gorfod cymryd camau pellach, a byddaf i yn dechrau sôn yn benodol am broblemau yn y Siambr yma, achos dwi'n atebol i chi yn hynny o beth. O ran y grant, dwi’n falch eich bod chi yn croesawu hwnna. Mae hwn yn medru cael ei weinyddu yn sydyn iawn, i'w gael o allan o’r drws cyn gynted â phosib. Y bore yma, roeddwn i'n siarad efo cynrychiolydd o Swansea Point yn Abertawe oedd yn sôn bod yna ryw 240 o adeiladau mae o'n eu cynrychioli ac y byddai'r datblygiadau yna yn gallu cael budd penodol allan o'r grant. Yn Sand Wharf, mae yna 100 o bobl—100 o unedau—a allai gael budd allan o hwn. Y meini prawf, bydd y rheini ar gael yn fuan iawn i bobl gael craffu'r rheini, ond yn sicr fydd y grant ddim yn talu am gostau patrolio adeilad ar droed, sef y waking watch, achos mae hwnna wedi bod yn gost sylweddol. Rydyn ni'n symud rŵan at grantiau ar gyfer y larymau, a gobeithio bod y larymau yna yn gallu bod yn rhai parhaol. Mae modd rhoi larymau dros dro i mewn sydd efo'r gallu i gael eu haddasu ar gyfer pan fydd y gwaith wedi cael ei orffen. Felly, gobeithio bod hwnna'n esbonio ychydig bach mwy am hynny. Mae eich pwynt chi ynglŷn â chartrefi cymdeithasol ac awydd clir y Llywodraeth yma i gynyddu'r cyflenwad o dai cymdeithas yn hollol, hollol briodol. Wrth gwrs, mae safonau diogelwch yn gorfod eu cynnal. Rydym ni'n sôn am gartrefi cymunedol, cartrefi cymdeithasol o ansawdd uchel, carbon isel ac yn saff. Felly, mae hynny'n holl, holl bwysig. Mae o'n rhan o uchelgais y Llywodraeth yma fod pobl yng Nghymru yn gallu cael cartref diogel a fforddiadwy ar gyfer y tymor hir.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much, Peter, for those questions. Of course, I agree entirely with you: we do have to see action. That is what is important here, and that is why I held that meeting with the developers last week, in order to emphasise that very clear message that we do expect to see progress, and progress at pace, for the benefit of the people living with this ongoing concern and anxiety, because they are constantly reminded of what happened at Grenfell. And I do think it is important—. Thank you for mentioning that. It is important that we remember why we are doing this work. It does all go back to that tragedy seven years ago now. So, that was my message to the developers. I am accountable to leaseholders. I am not accountable to the developers. It is the leaseholders who are at the forefront of my thoughts, and through you in the Senedd I am also accountable to them, and that is why I will bring progress reports to you in this place. And that close monitoring is happening. My officials speak to the developers on an ongoing basis and are trying to help them remove some of the barriers that are in place. But, at the end of the day, they do have to take their responsibilities seriously, and I do hope to see progress by the end of the year. That is what was in the previous Government's contract. They expected to see the work started by all developers by the end of this year. We are a long way from that point, but that is the expectation I am placing on them, and, if that does not happen, as I have explained, I will then have to take further steps, and I will start to talk specifically about problems in this Chamber, because I am accountable to you in that regard.  In terms of the grant, I am pleased that you have welcomed that. This can be put in place very quickly, and we can get it out of the door as soon as possible. This morning I was speaking to a representative from Swansea Point in Swansea and he mentioned that there are around 240 buildings that he represents, and that those developments could benefit specifically from the grant. In Sand Wharf, there are 100 units that could benefit from this.  The criteria will be made available very soon so that people can scrutinise those, but certainly the grant won't pay for waking watch costs, because those have been significant. We are now moving to grants for the alarms, and I do very much hope that those alarms can be permanent. You can put in temporary alarms that can be adapted for when the work has been completed and retained. So, hopefully that explains a little more on that. Your point on social housing and the clear desire of this Government to increase the supply of social housing is entirely appropriate. Of course, safety standards have to be maintained. We are talking about community housing and social housing that is high quality, low carbon and safe. That is crucially important. It's part of the ambition of this Government that people in Wales should be able to access a safe and affordable home for the long term.

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8. 7. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: Building Safety Programme Update cy

   Diolch yn fawr. Fel chi, dwi wedi cyfarfod llesdeiliaid sydd yn bryderus iawn ac wedi wynebu costau mawr, a chyda dim bai o gwbl arnyn nhw eu hunain, wrth gwrs. Felly, mae'r rheoliadau sydd newydd gael eu hymgynghori arnyn nhw, pan ddaw'r rheini i rym, mi fydd tenantiaid a llesdeiliaid yn gallu hawlio costau yn ôl ar gyfer y gwaith cyweirio. Roedd hwnna'n un o'r pethau penodol gwnaethon ni weithio arno fo wrth i'r Bil fynd trwyddo, fod y tribiwnlysoedd yma yn gallu rhoi llwybr i denantiaid i gael eu costau cyweirio yn ôl, achos dydy o jyst ddim yn deg eu bod nhw'n wynebu, heb unrhyw fath o fai arnyn nhw o gwbl, y costau yma sydd yn achosi cymaint o bryder iddyn nhw.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much. Yes, like you, I have met leaseholders who are very concerned and who have faced enormous costs, and through no fault of their own at all, of course. So, the regulations that have just been consulted on, when those come into force, tenants and leaseholders will be able to claim costs back for the remediation work. That was one of the specific things that we worked on as the Bill went through, that the tribunals would be able to provide a pathway for tenants to be able to claim their remediation costs back, because it just isn't fair that they have to face, through no fault of their own at all, these costs that are causing so much concern and worry for them.

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9. 7. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: Building Safety Programme Update cy

   Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiwn. I fod yn glir, dydyn ni ddim yn gofyn i drethdalwyr dalu am y gwaith cyweirio; rydyn ni'n gofyn i'r datblygwyr symud ymlaen efo'r gwaith cyweirio.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much for your question. Just to be clear, we are not asking taxpayers to pay for remediation work; we are asking the developers to proceed with that remediation work.

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10. 7. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: Building Safety Programme Update en

    We're not asking taxpayers to pay; we're asking the developers to speed up the remediation work and, in that way, make the homes safe for the leaseholders who are living in anxiety at the moment, and facing costs as well that, following the introduction of the new regulations, they will be able to go to a tribunal to claim.

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11. 7. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: Building Safety Programme Update cy

    O ran y pwynt bod cysylltiad rhwng y gwaith yma a'r gwaith cyflenwi tai cymdeithasol, dwi ddim rili yn gweld bod yna gysylltiad. Mae'n rhaid i'r gwaith yma ddigwydd. Mae'n rhaid i'r adeiladau yma gael eu gwneud yn saff. Mae'r Ddeddf yn dweud hynny. Mae'r gwaith o gynyddu’r cyflenwad o dai cymdeithasol yn rhywbeth sydd yn mynd i ddigwydd yn raddol dros gyfnod. Mae yna pipeline da o brosiectau o fewn y system yna. Felly, dwi ddim wir yn gweld cysylltiad rhwng y ddau beth. Diolch.

    Official English translation

    In terms of your point that there's a link between this work and the supply of social housing, I don't really see that there is a link there. This work must happen. These buildings must be made safe. The legislation states so. The work to increase the supply of social housing is something that will happen gradually over a period of time. There is a good pipeline of projects in place in that system. So, I don't really see a link between the two things. Thank you.

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12. 7. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: Building Safety Programme Update cy

    Diolch yn fawr iawn, Mike. Rydych chi hefyd yn pwysleisio'r caledi y mae rhai o'ch etholwyr chi wedi bod ac yn wynebu oherwydd y sefyllfa yma, a'r angen i'w trin nhw efo tegwch a pharch ac urddas. Yn sicr, dwi yn gwneud hynny. Fe wnes i gyfarfod etholwr o Abertawe heddiw a oedd yn sôn am y pryder sydd ganddyn nhw oherwydd yr arafwch efo datblygiad Swansea Point yn benodol. Dwi'n deall eich pwynt chi o ran rhoi grantiau tuag at larymau interim, a bod hynny efallai yn arwydd bod pethau mynd i arafu. Ond, beth dwi'n gwybod all ddigwydd ydy bod y larymau yma yn medru cael eu gosod fel mesur dros dro, ond mae yna ffordd o'u haddasu nhw fel eu bod nhw yna yn barhaol. Felly, mae hwnna yn arwydd bod pethau'n gallu symud ymlaen, oherwydd fe fydd y larymau yna yn gallu bod yna ar ôl i'r gwaith gael ei gwblhau. Jest i'ch atgoffa chi, wrth i ni gloi, Ddirprwy Lywydd, gofyniad y Llywodraeth ddiwethaf yn y cytundeb efo'r datblygwyr oedd bod gwaith i ddechrau ym mhob adeilad erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn yma. Dyna'r disgwyliad. Efallai nad ydy'r disgwyliad yna wedi cael ei wneud y ddigon clir i ddatblygwyr—dwi'n credu efallai ei fod o—gan y cyn-Lywodraeth, ond mae'r Llywodraeth yma yn benderfynol bod y datblygwyr yn cymryd eu gwaith yn gwbl, gwbl o ddifrif. Dwi'n edrych ymlaen at ddod yn ôl yma i'r Senedd, nid i sôn am y problemau, ond i sôn am y stori dda sydd wedi digwydd yng Nghymru efo'r rhaglen diogelwch adeiladau. Diolch.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much, Mike. You are also emphasising the hardship that some of your constituents have faced and are facing because of this situation, and the need to treat them with dignity, respect and fairness. Certainly, I am doing that. I met with a constituent from Swansea today who spoke about the concern that they have because of the slow progress with the development at Swansea Point in particular. I understand your point in terms of providing grants for the interim alarms, and that that perhaps is a sign that things are going to slow down. However, what I know can happen is that these alarms can be installed as a temporary measure, but there is a way of adapting them so that they can remain there permanently. So, that is a sign that things can move forward, because those alarms can remain there after the work is completed. Just to remind you, in closing, Dirprwy Lywydd, the requirement of the previous Government in the agreement with developers was that work was to be started in every building by the end of this year. That was the expectation. Perhaps that expectation hasn't been made clear enough to developers—I think it probably was—by the previous Government, but this Government is determined that the developers will take their work completely and entirely seriously. I look forward to returning here to the Senedd, not to talk to you about the problems, but to tell a positive story about what's happened in Wales with the building safety programme. Thank you.

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1. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Diolch yn fawr iawn, a phrynhawn da, bawb. Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig sydd yn gyfrifol am ddeddfwriaeth a chanllawiau sy'n ymwneud â chynlluniau pensiwn llywodraeth leol, gan gynnwys buddsoddiadau. Yr awdurdodau gweinyddu a Phartneriaeth Pensiwn Cymru sy'n gyfrifol am benderfynu sut mae'r arian yma yn cael ei fuddsoddi yng Nghymru.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much, and good afternoon, all. The UK Government is responsible for legislation and guidance on the local government pension scheme, including in relation to investments. The administering authorities and the Wales Pension Partnership are responsible for decisions on how this money is invested in Wales.

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2. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Dydy'r ffaith fy mod i rŵan yn Weinidog mewn Llywodraeth ddim yn newid fy ngwerthoedd i o gwbl. Dwi'n parhau i fod yn ymgyrchydd yn ogystal ag yn Weinidog o fewn Llywodraeth Cymru, a dwi'n siŵr bod Aelodau eraill y Cabinet yn cyd-fynd â hynny. Mae yna le i gronfeydd pensiwn yng Nghymru fuddsoddi'n gyfrifol ac yn lleol. Wrth gwrs, er, fel rydych chi'n nodi, nad does gennym ni ddim cyfrifoldeb uniongyrchol dros y cronfeydd pensiwn, mae yna drafodaethau yn digwydd, ac rydyn ni'n annog awdurdodau pensiwn i fuddsoddi'n gyfrifol ac yn foesegol, fel bod pensiynau'r sector cyhoeddus yn cyfrannu'n gadarnhaol at ddyfodol Cymru—yn economaidd, yn gymdeithasol ac yn amgylcheddol. Un defnydd gwych o gronfeydd pensiwn ydy buddsoddi yn y stoc tai cymdeithasol, ac rydych chi'n gwybod fy mod i'n ymgyrchu dros fwy o dai cymdeithasol. Dwi'n deall bod cronfa bensiwn dinas a sir Abertawe newydd greu cronfa effaith lleol gwerth £51 miliwn a fydd yn buddsoddi mewn tai cymdeithasol lleol, ymhlith pethau eraill. Dwi'n gefnogol iawn i hynny. Partneriaeth Pensiwn Cymru sydd yn gyfrifol am esbonio sut y byddan nhw'n buddsoddi. Dydy hynny ddim yn golygu peidio â buddsoddi yn y diwydiant amddiffyn, er enghraifft, ond mae o'n golygu peidio â buddsoddi mewn cwmnïau sy'n cynhyrchu arfau dadleuol. Felly, mae yna, yn barod, fframwaith moesegol ar gyfer Partneriaeth Pensiwn Cymru.

   Official English translation

   The fact that I'm now a Minister in Government doesn't change my values at all. I continue to be a campaigner as well as a Minister in the Welsh Government, and I'm sure that other members of the Cabinet agree with that. There is a place for pension funds in Wales to invest responsibly and locally. Of course, although, as you note, we don't have direct responsibility over pension funds, there are discussions that happen, and we do encourage pension authorities to invest responsibly and ethically, so that public sector pensions contribute positively to the future of Wales—economically, socially and environmentally. One excellent use of pension funds is investing in the social housing stock, and you know that I'm campaigning for more social housing. I understand that the city and county of Swansea pension fund has just created a fund worth £51 million that will invest in social housing on a local level. I'm very supportive of that step. The Wales Pension Partnership is responsible for explaining how they will invest. That doesn't mean not investing in the defence industry, for example, but it does mean not investing in companies that produce controversial arms. So, already there is an ethical framework for the Wales Pension Partnership.

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3. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Diolch yn fawr iawn. Wrth gwrs, mae angen i'r cronfeydd pensiwn fuddsoddi mewn ffordd sydd yn gadarn ac sydd yn gwarchod y rheini sydd yn elwa yn uniongyrchol o'r cronfeydd hynny, ond dwi'n credu ein bod ni eisiau gweld buddsoddiad cyfrifol a moesegol gan awdurdodau pensiynau, fel bod pensiynau'r sector cyhoeddus yn cyfrannu mewn ffordd gadarnhaol at ddyfodol Cymru, a hynny'n economaidd, yn gymdeithasol ac yn amgylcheddol. Ar ôl pasio Deddf Cynlluniau Pensiwn 2026 y Deyrnas Unedig yn gynharach eleni, mi fydd awdurdodau pensiwn a chronfa Cymru yn cytuno ar eu strategaethau buddsoddi dros y misoedd nesaf. Felly, dydy'r strategaethau yna ddim yn rhai sydd wedi cael eu diffinio yn fanwl eto, ond dwi yn edrych ymlaen at drafod efo nhw yn unol â gwerthoedd y Llywodraeth yma.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much. Of course, the pension funds do need to invest in a way that is robust and safeguards those people who will benefit directly from those funds, but I do believe that we want to see responsible and ethical investment by pension authorities, so that public sector pensions do contribute in a positive way to the future of Wales, economically, socially and environmentally. Having passed the UK Pension Schemes Act 2026 earlier this year, the pension authority and the Welsh fund will agree on investment strategies over the next few months. So, those strategies haven't yet been defined in detail as of yet, but I do look forward to having discussions with them in line with this Government's values.

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4. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Diolch yn fawr iawn. Ydw, dwi yn cytuno efo chi. Dyna pam dwi'n awyddus i weithio efo Partneriaeth Pensiwn Cymru i archwilio pa gamau pellach y gallwn ni eu cymryd efo'n gilydd i gryfhau cyfraniad cronfeydd pensiwn llywodraeth leol Cymru i Gymru, ac i'r math o fuddsoddiadau rydym ni am eu gweld yn digwydd yn ein gwlad ni. Dwi'n sôn am dai eto, oherwydd dwi yn credu bod tai cymdeithasol yn un o'r materion hynny rydych chi'n cyfeirio atyn nhw, sef nid yn unig y peth iawn i wneud, oherwydd ein bod ni eisiau cyflymu'r broses o gyflenwi mwy o dai cymdeithasol, ond hefyd mae yna lif cyson o incwm yn dod drwy'r rhent o dai cymdeithasol. Felly, mae'n gwneud synnwyr yn gyffredinol hefyd ar gyfer buddsoddi yma yng Nghymru. Dwi'n falch iawn o'r cyfraniad yna gennych chi yn cefnogi yr hyn rydym ni'n ei wneud o fewn Llywodraeth.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much. Yes, I do agree with you. That is why I'm eager to work with the Wales Pension Partnership to consider what further steps we can take together to strengthen the contribution of local government pension funds to Wales and to the kinds of investment that we want to see within our own country. I'm talking specifically here of homes again, because I do think that social housing is one of those issues that you're referring to, which is not only the right thing to do, because we want to accelerate the process of providing more social homes, but there is also a consistent income flow coming in through rent from social housing. Therefore, it makes sense in general terms too for this investment here in Wales. I'm very pleased to hear that contribution from you supporting what we're doing within Government.

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5. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiwn. Bydd y tasglu canol trefi y byddwn ni'n cyhoeddi mwy amdano yn fuan iawn yn mynd i'r afael â'r heriau strwythurol sy'n wynebu canol trefi, gan gynnwys edrych ar ardrethi busnes a diwygio'r drefn gynllunio, a thrwy weithio ar y cyd â phartneriaid a chynnal ffocws cryf ar gyflawni i helpu canol trefi i addasu, denu buddsoddiad a gweithgarwch a ffynnu yn y blynyddoedd i ddod.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much for the question. The town centre taskforce that we're going to be announcing more about quite soon will address the structural challenges facing town centres, including looking at business rates and planning reform, and by working collaboratively with partners and maintaining a strong focus on delivery to help town centres adapt, attract investment and activity and thrive in the years ahead.

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6. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Diolch yn fawr iawn. Medraf ddweud wrthych chi y prynhawn yma fod Powys wedi elwa ar fwy na £12.9 miliwn o gyllid adfywio Llywodraeth Cymru ers 2021. Mae hyn o dan y weinyddiaeth flaenorol, wrth gwrs. Mae'r gronfa yma wedi bod yn datblygu ar hyd y blynyddoedd. Felly dwi yn falch o fedru cyhoeddi bod £12.9 miliwn ym Mhowys, yn cynnwys yn Llandrindod, sydd yn agos i lle rydych chi'n byw, dwi'n credu, lle mae cymorth wedi cael ei roi i alluogi adfer adeilad hanesyddol Auto Palace, gan greu canolfan fusnes newydd yng nghanol y dre. Yn y Drenewydd, mi fues i yn ddiweddar yn Hafan yr Afon, datblygiad pwysig iawn sydd yn gweddnewid y rhan yna o'r dref. Mae hwnnw wedi cael ei gefnogi efo £1.1 miliwn o gyllid. Mae'r adeilad yna wedi cael ei greu, gyda llaw, efo dull passive house, sef y safon ddylunio fwyaf ynni effeithiol yn y byd, ac mae hwnna yn y Drenewydd ac wedi defnyddio peth arian allan o'r gronfa yma. Felly mae'r wybodaeth yna, a dwi'n siŵr y gallwn ni roi'r darlun cyfan fesul awdurdod lleol hefyd.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much. I can tell you this afternoon that Powys has benefited from more than £12.9 million in regeneration funding from the Welsh Government since 2021. This is under a previous administration, of course. This fund has been developing over the years. So, I am pleased to be able to announce that there is £12.9 million in Powys, including in Llandrindod, which is close to where you live, I believe, where support has been given to enable the restoration of a historic building, Auto Palace, creating a new business centre in the centre of town. In Newtown, I recently visited Hafan yr Afon, an important development that is transforming that part of the town. That has been supported with £1.1 million of funding. That building has been created, by the way, using the passive house approach, which is the most energy-efficient standard for building in the world, and that's happened in Newtown using some money from this fund. So, the information is there, and I'm sure that we can provide you with the full picture in each local authority too.

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7. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiwn ac roeddwn i'n hynod o falch o weld y cyhoeddiad yma yn rhan o'r cyhoeddiad am raglen ddeddfu y Llywodraeth yma. Dŷn ni wedi ymrwymo yn glir i gyflwyno Bil hawl cymunedol i brynu a bydd hynny'n flaenoriaeth gennym ni yn ystod y misoedd nesaf yma rŵan. Dwi'n ymwybodol iawn o nifer fawr o grwpiau cymunedol sydd yn awyddus iawn i brynu ac i gaffael adeiladau sydd yn dod yn wag yn eu cymunedau nhw, er mwyn eu troi nhw'n asedau sydd o ddefnydd i'r gymuned, i fywiogi'r gymuned ac i fywiogi'r stryd fawr yn aml hefyd. Dwi'n ymwybodol hefyd fod rhwystrau yn dod ar draws hynny yn aml iawn, ac weithiau maen nhw'n colli'r cyfle i brynu ased ac i'w droi o at ddefnydd y gymuned. Felly, dwi yn gobeithio y byddwn ni i gyd yn gallu cytuno ar ddeddfwriaeth newydd fydd yn grymuso grwpiau cymunedol, fel eu bod nhw'n gallu adnabod, yn y lle cyntaf, asedau sydd yn eu cymunedau nhw y gallan nhw fod eisiau eu prynu i'r dyfodol, ein bod ni'n creu cofrestr yn nodi'r rheini i gyd, ac wedyn, pan maen nhw'n dod ar y farchnad, eu bod nhw'n cael y cynnig cyntaf i brynu, ac wedyn yn cael y cyfle i wneud achos busnes ac i fynd ymlaen efo'r broses. Dydy hynny ddim yn digwydd ar hyn o bryd ac mae yna gyfleoen yn cael eu colli. Dwi yn bwriadu trefnu cyfres o weithdai dros fisoedd yr haf rŵan efo partneriaid, efo cymunedau, er mwyn inni gael mwy o gig ar yr asgwrn ar gyfer y ddeddfwriaeth newydd yma. Dwi'n eich annog chi i gyd i gymryd rhan yn hwnna ac annog grwpiau cymunedol yn eich etholaethau i fod yn rhan o'r ddeddfwriaeth newydd bwysig yma.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much for the question and I was very pleased to see that this announcement was part of the announcement on the Government's legislative programme. We are clearly committed to introducing a Bill on community right to buy and that will be a priority for us in the next few months now. I am very aware of a great number of community groups that are keen to buy and to procure buildings that become empty in their communities, in order to turn them into assets that are of use to the community, to bring life to the community and to the high street quite often as well. I am very aware as well that there are barriers quite often to doing this, and sometimes they lose the opportunity to buy an asset and to transform it for community use. So, I do hope that we all will be able to agree on new legislation that will empower community groups, so that they can identify, in the first place, assets that are in their community that they might want to buy for the future, that we create a register identifying all of those, and that then, when they do come on the market, they get first offer on those properties, and then have an opportunity to make a business case and to continue with the process. That is not happening at the moment and opportunities are being missed. I do intend to arrange a series of workshops over the summer now with partners, with communities, in order for us to have more detail in terms of this new legislation. I encourage you all to take part in that and encourage community groups in your constituencies to be part of this new important legislation.

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8. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Mae'r ddeddfwriaeth newydd, yr oeddwn i'n rhan o'i chreu yn y Senedd ddiwethaf, yn fwy pellgyrhaeddol na'r ddeddfwriaeth yn Lloegr a ddaeth i rym rai blynyddoedd yn ôl. Mi ydyn ni yn ymgynghori ar reoliadau newydd. Fe wnes i wthio'r weinyddiaeth flaenorol i gynnwys y gallu yna. Felly, dŷn ni'n ymgynghori ar reoliadau newydd a fydd yn golygu bod pobl sydd yn byw mewn adeiladau sydd ddim wedi cael eu hadfer, neu sydd yn wynebu costau ychwanegol drwy fod eu costau gwasanaeth nhw wedi cynyddu'n sgil gwaith sydd yn gorfod cael ei wneud—bydd gan y bobl yna, unwaith mae'r rheoliadau yna'n dod i rym, lwybr i fynd â materion i dribiwnlys. Rŵan, mae hynny'n gam sylweddol ymlaen, ac mae o'n mynd i gymryd ychydig bach o amser, ychydig o fisoedd, tan ein bod ni'n dod â'r rheoliadau yna i rym. Dwi'n gobeithio y bydd pawb yn cefnogi—dwi'n siŵr y byddwch chi'n cefnogi—y rheoliadau yna. Mae yna dair agwedd mewn gwirionedd, onid oes? Mae'r ddeddfwriaeth newydd sydd yng Nghymru, ond mae hefyd y gwaith adfer, sydd yn hynod o araf deg; mae o'n hynod o araf deg—dŷn ni'n derbyn hynny. Dwi wedi gwadd y cwmnïau sydd yn dal wrthi'n gwneud y gwaith i'm cyfarfod i fis nesaf, lle byddan nhw'n cael neges hollol glir fod y Llywodraeth yma yn mynnu bod y gwaith adfer yna yn cyflymu, a bod pace y gwaith yn cyflymu.

   Official English translation

   The new legislation that I was involved in drawing up in the last Senedd is more far-reaching than the legislation in England, which came into force some years ago. We are consulting on new regulations. I pushed the previous administration to include the ability to do that. So, we are consulting on new regulations that will mean that those people living in buildings that haven't been remediated, or who are facing additional costs because their service charges have increased because of work that has to be done—those people will have a route to tribunal, once those new regulations are in place. Now, that is a significant step forward, and it's going to take a little time, a few months, before we bring those regulations into force. I hope that everyone will support—I'm sure that you will support—those regulations. There are three aspects of this in reality, aren't there? There is the new legislation in Wales, but there is also the remediation work, which is extremely slow in happening; it is extremely slow—we accept that. I have invited the companies that are continuing with this work to meet with me next month, where they will get a very clear message that this Government insists that that remediation work should be accelerated, and that the pace should go up.

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9. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Diolch yn fawr. I fynd yn ôl at eich pwynt chi am y Cladiators, do, mi ges i gyfarfod adeiladol iawn efo nhw ddydd Llun. Roeddwn i'n falch iawn o'u cyfarfod nhw a chlywed eu pryderon nhw'n uniongyrchol ganddyn nhw. Mi wnes i ddatganiad ysgrifenedig ddydd Llun a oedd yn cadarnhau yr 20,000 o dai cymdeithasol newydd sydd mawr eu hangen yng Nghymru, i bawb sydd yn byw yng Nghymru. Mae'r ffordd y mae tai cymdeithasol yn cael eu dynodi yn fater i awdurdodau lleol. Mae awdurdodau lleol yn casglu cofrestr tai ac mae tai yn cael eu dyrannu yn ôl angen, ac felly y dylai hi fod hefyd. Felly, dwi'n edrych ymlaen i'r gwaith rŵan o gyflenwi mwy o dai cymdeithasol. Dyna ydy gwraidd y broblem; gwraidd y broblem, gwraidd yr argyfwng tai yng Nghymru, ydy bod gennym ni ddim digon o dai cymdeithasol. Dydy'r cyflenwad ddim yn ddigonol i ateb y galw, ac yn y fan yna y dylem ni fod yn rhoi ein hymdrechion ni drwy'r amser.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much. To return to your point on the Cladiators, yes, I had a very constructive meeting with them on Monday. I was delighted to meet with them and to hear their concerns directly from them. I made a written statement on Monday that confirmed the 20,000 social homes that are desperately needed in Wales, for everyone living in Wales. The way that social housing is allocated is a matter for local authorities. Local authorities have a housing register and homes are allocated according to need, and that's how it should be too. Therefore, I look forward to the work now of supplying more social homes. That's what's at the heart of the problem; the core of the housing crisis in Wales is that we don't have enough social homes. The supply isn't adequate to meet demand, and that is where we should be focusing our efforts always.

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10. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Dwi'n siomedig iawn efo'r cwestiwn yna. Yn sicr i chi, dwi ddim yn gwybod a ydy'r ystadegau yna'n gywir neu a ydyn nhw ddim. Beth bynnag, dwi'n siomedig eich bod chi'n mynnu mynd ar ôl hyn dro ar ôl tro yn y Siambr yma. Fel roeddwn i'n dweud, mae'r argyfwng tai yn cael ei greu oherwydd bod yna ddiffyg cyflenwad o dai cymdeithasol i fynd o gwmpas i ddiwallu yr angen. Mae pawb sydd yng Nghymru yn haeddu cael to uwch eu pen a lle saff i fyw. Felly, dwi ddim eisiau mynd ar ôl y mater yma ymhellach.

    Official English translation

    I'm extremely disappointed with that question. Certainly, I don't know whether those statistics are accurate or not. But I am disappointed that you are insisting on pursuing this time and time again in this Chamber. As I said, the housing crisis has been created because of a shortage of social housing to meet demand. Everyone in Wales deserves a roof over their head and a safe place to live. So, I don't want to pursue this issue any further.

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11. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr iawn. Mae rhan olaf eich cwestiwn chi ynglŷn â'r pwysau mawr sydd yn wynebu llywodraeth leol yn gywir, ydy. Dŷch chi'n sôn am anghenion dysgu ychwanegol, dŷch chi'n sôn am wasanaethau cymdeithasol, gwasanaethau gofal. Mae llywodraeth leol o dan bwysau mawr iawn ac wedi bod yn cwtogi cyllidebau am flynyddoedd lawer, ac wedi bod yn gorfod cwtogi cyllidebau mewn rhai mannau sydd wirioneddol dan bwysau rŵan, o ran cynllunio, er enghraifft, a rheolau adeiladu. Mae'r gwasanaethau yna wedi cyrraedd pwynt anodd iawn, ond, wrth gwrs, maen nhw wedi gwneud hynny er mwyn diogelu rhai o'r gwasanaethau sydd yn cefnogi'r bobl fwyaf bregus o fewn ein cymdeithas ni. Doedd ganddyn nhw ddim dewis o ran gwneud hynny, oherwydd polisïau llymder y Torïaid ar draws cymaint o flynyddoedd, polisïau sydd wedi cael eu dilyn gan Lywodraeth Lafur y Deyrnas Unedig hefyd.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much. The final part of your question in terms of the great pressures facing local government is accurate, yes. You talk about ALN, you talk about social services, care services. Local government is under great pressure and has been cutting budgets for many years, and has had to cut budgets in some areas that are now under genuine pressure—planning, for example, and building regulations. Those services have reached a very difficult point, but, of course, they've done that in order to safeguard some of the services that support the most vulnerable people in our society. They haven't had a choice other than to do that, because of the austerity policies of the Conservatives across so many years, policies that have been emulated by the UK Labour Government as well.

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12. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Wel, mi fyddwch chi'n cofio, adeg eich cyllideb chi fel Llafur, fe wnaeth Plaid Cymru ddod i sefyllfa lle roeddem ni yn gallu atal ein pleidlais ar y gyllideb honno drwy negodi, yn gyfrifol ac yn aeddfed, £112.8 miliwn, dwi'n meddwl, yn ychwanegol ar gyfer llywodraeth leol. Mi alluogodd hynny i'ch Llywodraeth chi sefydlu cyllideb. Roedd yn hynod o siomedig gen i ddoe fod yr ysbryd yna o negodi a chyfaddawdu ddim wedi cael ei wireddu gan eich plaid chi. Mi oedd Plaid Cymru wedi dod â chynnig gwerth £120 miliwn dros dair blynedd i'r bwrdd, a chafodd hwnna ei wrthod gan Lafur. Roedd hwnna ar gyfer yr anghenion dysgu ychwanegol dŷch chi'n sôn amdano fo. Dŷch chi wedi penderfynu nad ydych chi ddim eisiau mynd lawr y llwybr yna. I fi, roedd ddoe yn ddiwrnod trist iawn i Gymru, lle mae'r ysbryd yna o geisio creu cydweithio er mwyn pobl Cymru—fe aeth hwnna drwy'r ffenestr ddoe, mae arnaf i ofn. Ond dwi yn gobeithio y gallwn ni ddychwelyd at sefyllfa lle dŷn ni'n rhoi pobl Cymru yn gyntaf ym mhopeth dŷn ni'n ei wneud.

    Official English translation

    Well, you may remember that, in your budget as the Labour Government, Plaid Cymru did come to a position where we could abstain on that budget by negotiating, responsibly and maturely, £112.8 million, I believe, in additional funding for local government. That enabled your Government to pass a budget. It was very disappointing for me yesterday that that spirit of compromise and negotiation wasn't realised by your party. Plaid Cymru did bring a proposal worth £120 million over three years to the table, and that was rejected by Labour. That was for ALN, as you mentioned. You've decided that you don't want to go down that route. For me, yesterday was a very sad day for Wales, where that spirit of trying to create some kind of collaboration for the benefit of the people of Wales—that got thrown out of the window yesterday, unfortunately. But I do hope that we can return to a situation where we put the people of Wales first in everything that we do.

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13. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiwn yma ac am gyfle i esbonio ychydig bach am beth oedd yn y datganiad ysgrifenedig ddydd Llun. Yn hollol, mi ydyn ni am i'r targed o 20,000 yma gynnwys eiddo gwag uwchben siopau yn ein strydoedd mawr ni, a bydd hyn yn rhan o'r gwaith mae'r tasglu canol trefi yn mynd i fod yn edrych arno fo, wrth gwrs, a sut ydyn ni'n cyflymu'r broses i alluogi mwy o eiddo sydd yn wag ar hyn o bryd i ddod i mewn i'r stoc. Dwi'n pwysleisio fy mod i'n meddwl ei fod o'n bwysig i fod yn hollol dryloyw ac, felly, dwi wedi dweud mai dim ond cartrefi fydd yn aros yn gartrefi cymdeithasol i gymunedau ac i deuluoedd fydd yn cael eu cyfrif fel rhan o'r 20,000. Rŵan, beth yn union fydd y canran rhwng y rhai newydd a'r rhai fydd yn dod drwy ddulliau eraill o ran eiddo gwag ac yn y blaen, allaf i ddim rhoi ffigwr i chi ar hynny yn union. Ond dwi hefyd, yn y datganiad yna ddydd Llun, wedi sôn am dai o dan arweiniad y gymuned, ac mi fyddwn i'n hoffi cynnwys tai sydd yn cael eu creu drwy grwpiau cymunedol—drwy'r hawl i brynu, er enghraifft—a'n bod ni'n cynnwys y tai yna hefyd o fewn y targed oherwydd maen nhw'n cynnig ateb cydnaws â chymunedau yn yr ardaloedd gwledig ac yn yr ardaloedd lle mae'r Gymraeg yn ffynnu.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much for that question and for an opportunity to explain some of what was contained within the written statement issued on Monday. You're exactly right, we want that target of 20,000 to include vacant properties above shops on our high streets, and this will be part of the work of the town centre taskforce, of course, and how we accelerate the process to allow more vacant properties to come into our housing stock. I do emphasise that I think it's important to be entirely transparent and, therefore, I have said that only homes that will remain as social homes for communities and families will be counted as part of that 20,000 target. Now, what exactly the percentage will be between new builds and acquisitions in terms of vacant properties and so on, I can't give you an exact figure on that. But, also in that statement made on Monday, I have spoken of community-led housing and I would like to include housing that's created through community groups—through the community right to buy, for example—and that we also include those within the target because they do provide a solution that is in keeping with those communities in rural areas and where the Welsh language prospers.

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14. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch am y cwestiwn ac am eich diddordeb chi yn y maes penodol yma. Yn ystod 100 niwrnod cyntaf y Llywodraeth yma, mi fyddwn ni'n gwneud cyhoeddiad llawn ynglyn â phwrpas y tasglu ac aelodaeth y tasglu newydd rydyn ni wrthi'n sefydlu. Wrth gwrs, y tasglu fydd yn edrych ar ei gylch gorchwyl yn benodol, felly, a dwi'n awyddus iawn i hynny ddigwydd, yn hytrach nag ein bod ni, fel Llywodraeth, yn gosod rhyw fath o feini prawf. Y bobl yn y tasglu yna, yn ymgynghori efo eraill, fydd yn gosod y cylch gorchwyl ar gyfer y gwaith. Ond mi fyddwn ni'n cymryd yn ganiataol, o fod wedi ymwneud â'r math yma o waith am flynyddoedd, y bydd edrych ar drethu busnes a sut gallwn ni wneud cynnal siop yng nghanol tref yn fwy atyniadol nag ydy hi i fod ar y cyrion mewn canolfan siopa, y byddai hwnna'n un maes, byddwn i'n meddwl, y byddan nhw'n edrych arno fo. Mae cynllunio hefyd a sut i gyflymu'r broses er mwyn trosi adeiladau gwag yng nghanol ein trefi ni. Ond hefyd, bydd yr awydd yma, mae'n siŵr, i edrych yn holistaidd ar ba wasanaethau cyhoeddus a allai ddod i mewn i ganol ein trefi ni a sut i gyflymu'r broses gynllunio o gwmpas hynny. Mae yna dasg fawr yna, ond mae'n dasg gyffrous, a dwi'n edrych ymlaen i gydweithio efo'r tasglu.

    Official English translation

    Thank you for that question and for your interest in this particular area. During this Government's first 100 days, we will be making a full announcement on the purpose of the new taskforce that we're currently establishing and its membership. Of course, it's the taskforce that will consider its specific remit, and I'm very eager for that to happen, rather than us, as a Government, setting out certain criteria. It's the people in that taskforce, in consultation with others, that will set the remit for that work. But I assume, having been involved in this sort of work for years, that looking at business rates and how we can make sustaining a shop in a town centre more attractive than being located in an out-of-town centre would be one area that they would look at, along with planning and how we can accelerate the process in order to convert vacant buildings in our town centres. But there's also this desire to look holistically at what public services can be brought into our town centres and how we can accelerate the planning process around that too. There's a great job of work to be done, but it's very exciting, and I look forward to working with the taskforce.

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15. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr. Mae 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru' yn cael ei adolygu yn barhaus i sicrhau ei fod o'n parhau yn effeithiol, yn berthnasol, a’i fod o'n ymateb i’r dystiolaeth sy’n dod i’r amlwg. Mae swyddogion yn adolygu canllawiau cynllunio ar hyn o bryd. Maen nhw’n gwneud hyn gan nodi pa agweddau y gall fod angen eu diweddaru yn y dyfodol i sicrhau bod y fframwaith cynllunio yn adlewyrchu blaenoriaethau y Llywodraeth Cymru yma.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much. 'Planning Policy Wales' is kept under continual review to ensure that it remains effective, relevant and responsive to emerging evidence. Officials are currently reviewing planning guidance, and they are doing so to identify which aspects may need to be updated in future to ensure that the planning framework reflects the priorities of this Welsh Government.

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16. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch am y cwestiwn, ac rwy'n falch ein bod ni'n cytuno bod angen edrych o ddifrif ar 'Cymru'r Dyfodol', 'Future Wales', sef y cynllun cenedlaethol, yr haen uchaf yna o ddatblygu a datblygiadau yng Nghymru. O dan hwnna, wrth gwrs, mae 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru' yn gorwedd, felly rydym ni angen gwneud y gwaith ar y lefel uchel yna o gwmpas strategaeth ofodol genedlaethol, gan roi yn hwnna y blaenoriaethau cyfoes ar gyfer twf, seilwaith, ynni, trafnidiaeth a datblygu rhanbarthol. Felly, mae ganddo fo statws statudol, a dwi'n awyddus iawn—mae'r gwaith wedi dechrau i edrych ar yr haen uchaf yna—wedyn i weld beth sydd angen ei newid o ran y polisïau cynllunio, gan gynnwys, wrth gwrs, y polisi ynni a pholisi ynglŷn â thrydaneiddio a llinellau trydan newydd, a'r materion yna i gyd. Felly, gallaf eich sicrhau chi fod y gwaith yn digwydd ar hwnna.

    Official English translation

    Thank you for the question, and I'm pleased that we do agree that we need to look seriously at 'Future Wales', namely the national plan, the top-tier plan on developments in Wales. It's under that, of course, that 'Planning Policy Wales' lies. So, we need to do the work on that highest level around the national spatial strategy and to include in that the current priorities for growth, infrastructure and regional development and transport. So, it does have statutory status, and I'm very eager, as the work has started to look at that highest level, to then see what needs to be changed in terms of the planning policies, including energy policy, electrification and new electrical lines, and so forth. So, I can assure you that that work is happening.

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17. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr iawn. Yn anffodus, fedraf i ddim sôn am ddatblygiadau penodol mewn etholaethau penodol. Mae Gweinidogion Cymru yn gyfrifol am wneud penderfyniadau mewn meysydd fel yna, a phwy a ŵyr efo'r mater penodol yma, felly fedraf i ddim sôn yn benodol. Ond rydych chi'n dod â phwynt pwysig ymlaen ynglŷn â sut mae'n polisïau cynllunio ni, ein strategaethau ni, yn edrych ar faterion i wneud efo canolfannau data, sy'n mynd yn ôl at y pwynt roedd James Evans yn ei wneud—yr angen i fod yn edrych eto ar y prif fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol, 'Future Wales'. Mae angen ei ddiwygio fo. Mae hon yn un enghraifft o pam, ac felly mae'r gwaith yna yn digwydd. Yn ystod ein 100 niwrnod cyntaf ni, mi fydd yna gyhoeddiad penodol ynglŷn â'r broses sydd angen digwydd efo hwnna. Mae yna broses benodol; fedrwn ni ddim jest eistedd i lawr a'i newid o. Mae'n rhaid mynd drwy broses, ac mi fyddwn ni'n cyhoeddi mwy am hynny yn ystod y 100 niwrnod cyntaf.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much. Unfortunately, I can't comment on specific developments in specific constituencies. Welsh Ministers are responsible for making decisions in those areas, and who knows with this particular issue, so I can't talk about that specifically. But you do bring forward an important point about how our planning policies and our strategies look at issues relating to data centres, which bring us back to the point made by James Evans, namely the need to look again at the main national development framework, 'Future Wales'. We do need to reform that. This is one example of why, and so that work is happening. During our first 100 days, there will be a specific announcement about the process that needs to happen with that. There is a specific process; we can't just sit down and change it. We have to go through a process, and we will be making an announcement about that during the first 100 days.

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18. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr iawn. Dwi'n cytuno efo chi—mae angen cyflymu'r broses gynllunio, yn enwedig yn y maes tai. Dydy o ddim yn dderbyniol ei bod hi'n cymryd blynyddoedd weithiau i ddatblygiadau ddwyn ffrwyth. Felly, mae hi'n fwriad gen i i gyhoeddi yn ystod y 100 niwrnod cyntaf y byddwn ni'n gwneud galwad am dystiolaeth ar gyfer diwygio'r drefn gynllunio yn y maes tai yn benodol, er mwyn ceisio cael pobl broffesiynol—pobl fel chi sydd wedi bod yn arwain cyngor ac sydd yn deall ar lawr gwlad beth ydy'r rhwystrau cynllunio hynny—i ddod â thystiolaeth ymlaen, fel ein bod ni'n gallu mynd ati o ddifrif i ddiwygio 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru' ac i'w wneud o'n fwy pwrpasol ac yn fwy cyflym ar gyfer anghenion ein cymunedau ni. Mae yna ddwy Ddeddf wedi cael eu pasio ar ddiwedd y Senedd ddiwethaf sydd yn dod â'r polisïau cynllunio ynghyd, a dwi'n meddwl bod hwnna yn ei hun yn mynd i fod yn help, ond dydy o ddim yn mynd hanner digon pell.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much. I do agree with you that we do need to accelerate the planning process, particularly in the area of housing. It's not acceptable that it takes years sometimes for developments to bear fruit. So, it is my intention to announce during the first 100 days that we will be making a call for evidence for reform of the planning system in the area of housing specifically, so that we can try to get professional people—people like you who have been council leaders and who understand the planning barriers at the grass roots—to bring evidence forward so that we can proceed to reform 'Planning Policy Wales', and to make it more fit for purpose and more swift in response to the needs of our communities. There were two Acts that were passed at the end of the last Senedd that bring planning policies together, and I do think that that in itself is going to help issues, but it doesn't go halfway far enough.

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19. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr, ac mae hwn eto'n gwestiwn pwysig. Mae'r Lywodraeth yma eisiau ein gweld ni'n gallu mynd ymhellach nag ydyn ni ar hyn o bryd yn y maes yma, a rhoi mwy o hyblygrwydd i lywodraeth leol ddefnyddio caffael i gefnogi busnesau Cymru a chryfhau cadwyni cyflenwi lleol. Dydy hwn ddim yn fy mhortffolio i'n uniongyrchol, ond dwi wedi chwilio am wybodaeth amdano fo. Felly, gobeithio y medraf i ateb eich ail gwestiwn chi.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much, and, again, this is an important question. This Government does want to go further than we currently go in this area, and to provide greater flexibility to local government to use procurement to support Welsh businesses and strengthen local supply chains. This isn't directly in my portfolio, but I have sought information about it. So, I hope I can respond to your supplementary question.

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20. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi am y cwestiwn atodol yna, ac mae'r Gweinidog perthnasol newydd gerdded i mewn i'r Siambr. [Torri ar draws.] O, ti ydy o. O, da iawn. Mae'r Gweinidog cyllid, felly, wedi clywed eich cais chi, a dwi'n deall, ar ôl holi am wybodaeth, fod yna ddatganiad polisi caffael newydd yn mynd i fod yn cael ei gyhoeddi yn adlewyrchu'r cynllun uchelgeisiol i gynyddu gwariant cyhoeddus yng Nghymru. Mae pethau wedi gwella, ac roedd yna Ddeddf caffael 2023, a basiwyd yn y Senedd yma, sydd wedi'i gwneud hi'n haws i fusnesau bach a chanolig gystadlu am gyfleoedd, ac i Fusnes Cymru, sy'n cynnig cymorth wedi’i deilwra i fusnesau Cymru i'w helpu nhw i ehangu, i dyfu a chryfhau, ac i ddeall y prosesau caffael cymhleth sydd yna. Ond dwi'n gwybod bod y Gweinidog cyllid yn awyddus iawn, fel ydw i, i fynd llawer iawn pellach o fewn ein grymoedd ni yn y Senedd yma. Felly, diolch.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much for that supplementary question, and the relevant Minister has just walked into the Chamber. [Interruption.] Oh, it's you. Good. The finance Minister, rather, has heard your request, and, having sought information, I am given to understand that there will be a new procurement policy statement published to actually increase public expenditure in Wales. Things have improved, and there was the procurement Act 2023, passed in this Senedd, which has made it easier for SMEs to actually bid for opportunities, and for Business Wales, which provides tailored support for Welsh businesses to help them to expand, grow and strengthen, and to understand the complex procurement processes. But I do know that the Minister for finance is very eager, as am I, to go much further within our powers in this Senedd. So, thank you.

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21. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiwn yna ac am eich cefnogaeth chithau hefyd i gynyddu'r caffael cyhoeddus i fusnesau lleol. Mae rhywun yn gwybod bod yna waith i’w wneud yn y maes yma—gymaint o enghreifftiau lle dydy o ddim yn gweithio ar hyn o bryd. Fel dwi'n dweud, mae pethau wedi gwella ychydig, ond araf ydy pace y gwella yna ers pasio'r Ddeddf Partneriaeth Gymdeithasol a Chaffael Cyhoeddus (Cymru) yn 2023. Mae'r Ddeddf yna yn gosod dyletswydd ar awdurdodau contractio i wella llesiant economaidd cymdeithasol, amgylcheddol a diwylliannol drwy gaffael, gan gynnwys ystyried mynediad ar gyfer busnesau bach a chanolig, a hefyd gwaith teg yn cael sylw yn y Ddeddf yna. Ond, wrth gwrs, mae yna le i fynd, fel rydych chi'n dweud. Dwi hefyd yn gobeithio y bydd y strategaeth bwyd newydd yn cyfarch rhan o hwn, oherwydd mae cynhyrchu bwyd yn lleol a chreu cadwyni cyflenwi lleol ar gyfer y sector cyhoeddus hefyd yn ffordd o atgyfnerthu busnesau lleol a’r sector amaethyddol ac yn y blaen. Felly, mae yna nifer o wahanol faterion medrith dod ynghyd yn fan hyn, gan gynnwys hefyd, wrth gwrs, y gwaith y bydd yr awdurdod ddatblygu cenedlaethol newydd yn gallu ei wneud i gefnogi busnesau er mwyn teimlo eu bod nhw'n cael mynediad at y contractau yma sydd yn cael eu cynnig.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much for that question, and for your support too in increasing public procurement for local businesses. Now, we know that there is work to be done in this area—there are so many examples of where it isn't currently working. As I say, things have improved a little, but the pace of that improvement has been slow since the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act was passed in 2023. That legislation does place a duty on contracting authorities to improve economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being through procurement, including considering access for SMEs, and fair work is addressed in the legislation too. But, of course, there is some way to go, as you say. I also hope that the new food strategy will address some of these issues, because local food production and creating local supply chains for the public sector again is a way of strengthening local businesses and the agricultural sector and so on. So, there are a number of different issues that can coalesce here, including, of course, the work that the national development body will do to support businesses so that they feel that they can access these contracts that are offered.

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22. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr. Rydym ni eisoes yn cymryd camau drwy'r grant tai cymdeithasol a rhaglen gyfalaf llety trosiannol. Mi fydd hyn yn mynd i'r afael â digartrefedd, yn lleihau dibyniaeth ar lety dros dro ac yn gwneud yn siŵr bod gan bobl ledled Cymru fynediad at gartrefi o safon sy'n effeithlon o ran ynni. Rydym ni hefyd yn sefydlu Unnos i gyflymu'r broses o ddarparu tai cymdeithasol ar draws Cymru.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much. We are already taking action through the social housing grant and the transitional accommodation capital programme. This will tackle homelessness, reduce reliance on temporary accommodation and ensure that people across Wales have access to quality homes that are energy efficient. We're also establishing Unnos to accelerate the delivery of social housing across Wales.

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23. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr iawn. Dwi'n deall y pwynt ynglŷn â chael targedau blynyddol, ond yn aml mae yna waith yn gallu digwydd tua diwedd y cyfnod. Felly, fuasai roi targedau blynyddol rigid mewn ffordd, felly, yr un un targed bob blwyddyn, ddim yn adlewyrchu realiti'r sefyllfa, achos dydy o ddim yn digwydd mewn ffordd linear. Yn aml iawn, mae'r broses yn cychwyn ac mae'r cyflymder yn digwydd tua diwedd y cyfnod. Ond mi wnaf i edrych i weld pa mor dryloyw—. Dwi eisiau bod yn dryloyw, a dwi am roi cymaint o wybodaeth i chi ag sy’n bosib. Dwi’n mynd i fod yn gofyn rŵan i fod yn rhan weithredol o rai o’r cyfarfodydd yma sydd yn digwydd efo’r gweision sifil imi gael deall yn union beth sydd yn mynd ymlaen. Ac o ran y cymdeithasau tai yn dod â hen stoc i fyny i bwrpas, mae yna grant arall ar gyfer hwnna, yr optimised retrofit scheme, sydd yn llwyddiannus iawn yn gwella cyflwr ein tai cymdeithasol ni. Mae eisiau cyflymu hynny, ac mae eisiau hefyd gweld y stoc yn y sector preifat yn gallu symud ymlaen hefyd, fel bod ansawdd ein tai ni ym mhob man ac ar draws pob deiliadaeth yn gwella.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much. I do understand the point about having annual targets, but often work can happen towards the end of the period. So, setting rigid annual targets, therefore, the same target every year, wouldn't reflect the reality of the situation, because it doesn't happen in a linear way. Often, the process starts and it accelerates towards the end of the period. But I will look to see how transparent—. I want to be transparent, and I want to provide you with as much information as possible. I'm going to be asking to have an operational role in some of the meetings that are happening with civil servants for me to understand exactly what's going on. And in terms of the housing associations bringing old stock up to standard, there is another grant available for that, the optimised retrofit scheme, which is very successful in terms of improving the condition of our social housing. We need to accelerate that, and we also need to see the private sector stock progressing as well, so that the quality of our housing everywhere and across all tenacies improves.

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24. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr. Mae hwnna’n cario ymlaen yn daclus iawn o’r ateb diwethaf yna, achos mae yna gynnydd yn cael ei wneud, ac, yn sicr, yn ein maniffesto ni, byddwch chi'n cofio bod sefydlu rhaglen ôl-osod sydd yn niwtral o ran deiliadaeth yn hollbwysig. Felly, gobeithio bod hynny'n arwain at ail gwestiwn—dwi'n anghofio bod yna ail gwestiwn.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much. That takes us on very neatly from that previous response, because progress is being made, and, certainly, in our manifesto, you will recall that establishing a tenure-neutral retrofit programme was a crucial part of that. So, I hope that that will lead to a supplementary question—I forget that there's a supplementary question.

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25. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr iawn. Mae yna nifer o resymau, onid oes, pam mae hi’n bwysig inni fod yn gwella cyflwr ein tai ni. Un rheswm ydy er mwyn eu datgarboneiddio nhw er mwyn ein bod ni yng Nghymru yn cyfrannu llai drwy ein tai ni tuag at newid hinsawdd. Mae tai yn cyfrannu 11 y cant o allyriadau carbon yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd, a dwi'n awyddus iawn i weld hynna yn gostwng, ac mae cael cynllun i datgarboneiddio tai yn hollbwysig. Ond mae manteision ynglŷn â biliau, costau biliau yn dod i lawr oherwydd ein bod ni'n gwneud ein tai yn fwy ynni effeithiol—mae'n bwysig i ni edrych ar hynny—ac mae hefyd tlodi tanwydd yn broblem yng Nghymru, so mae o'n mynd i fod yn ein helpu ni i daclo tlodi. Ond hefyd mae'r effaith ar iechyd yn hollbwysig, a dwi yn cael trafodaethau efo'r Dirprwy Weinidog ar waith ataliol, oherwydd, i fi, mae tai yn hollol ganolog i wella iechyd pobl, ac mi fedrwn ni wella deilliannau iechyd ein gwlad ni drwy roi ffocws clir ar wella cyflwr ein tai ni. Dwi'n mynd dydd Iau i weld—tŷ cymdeithasol ydy o—sut mae'r cynlluniau gwella wedi helpu teulu penodol yn y fanna, ac mi fyddaf i'n gwneud mwy o gyhoeddiadau ynglŷn â'r maes penodol yma hefyd yn y 100 diwrnod cyntaf.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much. There are a number of reasons why it's important that we improve the standard of our housing. One is to decarbonise so that we in Wales contribute less to climate change through our housing sector. Housing contributes around 11 per cent of carbon emissions in Wales, and I am very eager to see that reduced, and having a plan to decarbonise homes is very important. But there are benefits in terms of reducing bills as a result of making our homes more energy efficient—it's important that we consider that—and fuel poverty is also an issue in Wales, and it'll help us tackle poverty more generally. But also there is the impact on health, which is crucially important, and I am having discussions with the Deputy Minister in relation to preventative work, because, for me, housing is central to improving people's health, and we can improve health outcomes for our nation by having a clear focus on improving our housing standards. I will be going on Thursday to see—it's social housing—how retrofit programmes have helped a particular family there, and I'll be making further announcements on this specific area in our first 100 days.

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26. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr. Mi wnes i drafod yr adolygiad penodol yma ar y fformiwla gyllido efo'r is-grŵp cyllid ar 8 Gorffennaf. Yr is-grŵp cyllid ydy'r is-grŵp o dan y WLGA sydd yn ymdrin â'r materion yma.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much. I discussed this particular review of the funding formula with the finance sub-group on 8 July. The finance sub-group is the sub-group of the WLGA dealing with these issues.

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27. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Gwnaf. Gwnaf i ymrwymo i weithio nid yn unig efo cynghorau gwledig, ond efo cynghorau ar draws Cymru—cynghorau trefol hefyd, oherwydd dwi yn hollol glir mai gwaith rydym ni'n ei wneud efo'n gilydd ydy hwn. Fel rydych chi'n sôn, mae'r agwedd wledig yn un bwysig, ond mae amddifadedd yn bwysig hefyd, ac, wrth gwrs, mae amddifadedd yn digwydd hefyd mewn ardaloedd gwledig. Pwrpas yr adolygiad ydy ceisio gweld a oes angen newid, ac, os ydym ni'n mynd i newid, fod hynny'n adlewyrchu'n deg yr anghenion ar draws Cymru mewn gwahanol feysydd. Mae'r gwaith wedi dechrau ac, hyd yma, mae arweinwyr cyngor wedi bod yn rhoi mewnbwn adeiladol iawn i mewn i'r gwaith, ac mi fyddwn ni'n para efo'r gwaith. Mi fyddwn ni'n comisiynu adolygiad allanol i wneud yn siŵr bod y dystiolaeth yn gywir a bod y gwaith yn digwydd mewn ffordd sydd yn dryloyw ac i bawb gael deall beth sydd yn mynd ymlaen. Felly, dwi'n edrych ymlaen at weld ffrwyth y gwaith yna hefyd. Byddan nhw'n edrych ar brofiadau mewn gwledydd eraill—yn ogystal â rhoi ffocws ar Gymru, byddan nhw'n edrych i weld sut mae fformiwlâu dosbarthu yn gweithio mewn gwledydd eraill. Diolch.

    Official English translation

    I will. I will commit to work not only with the rural councils, but with councils across Wales—urban councils too, because I am entirely clear that this is work that should be undertaken collaboratively. As you mentioned, the rural aspect is important, but deprivation is also important, and there is, of course, deprivation in rural areas too. Now, the purpose of the review is to decide whether change is needed, and, if we are to make changes, that that fairly reflects needs across Wales in different areas. The work has commenced, and, to date, the council leaders have been providing very constructive input to that work, and we will continue with that work. We will be commissioning an external review in order to ensure that the evidence is accurate and that the work is happening in a way that is transparent, and that everyone can understand what is happening. So, I look forward to seeing that bear fruit too. They will be looking at experiences in other countries—as well as focusing on Wales, they will look to see how distribution formulas work in different countries. Thank you.

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28. 3. Topical Questions cy

    Diolch yn fawr. Mae'r tân bellach dan reolaeth, a diolch i ymdrechion Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub Gogledd Cymru a'r holl bartneriaid. Mae hyn yn ein hatgoffa ni o fygythiad newid hinsawdd a'r angen i bob gwasanaeth cyhoeddus addasu i hynny.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much. The fire is under control now, thanks to the efforts of the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and all of the partners. This reminds us of the climate change threat and the need for all public services to adapt to that.

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29. 3. Topical Questions cy

    Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi am ddod â'r mater yma gerbron y Senedd. Mae rhywun yn meddwl am y bobl gafodd eu heffeithio gan y tân yma. Dwi ond yn gallu dychmygu gymaint o ofn roedden nhw'n byw ynddo fo yn ystod y cyfnod yna pan oedd y fflamau yn rhuo ar y mynydd ym Mhenmaenmawr, ardal dwi'n gyfarwydd iawn â hi. Mi fu'n rhaid i 36 o aelwydydd adael eu cartrefi yn ystod y gwaith diffodd y tân, ond yn lwcus mi oedd modd iddyn nhw fynd yn ôl adref nos Lun. Mi wnaeth cyngor Conwy ddarparu llety dros dro i'r rhai oedd ei angen, felly rydyn ni'n hynod o ddiolchgar i gyngor Conwy am eu gwaith nhw ac yn ddiolchgar i Gyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, ond wrth gwrs i'r gwasanaeth tân. Mae ymladd tanau gwyllt yn waith hynod o anodd a pheryglus, ac mae eisiau talu teyrnged i holl ddiffoddwyr tân y gogledd a'r asiantaethau partner sydd wedi gweithredu mor gyflym i ymateb i'r digwyddiad yma a chadw pobl a chymunedau yn ddiogel. Rydych chi'n holi pa gefnogaeth gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei rhoi. Wel, wrth gwrs, rydyn ni'n gweithio efo'r partneriaid lleol. Y cyngor sir ydy'r lle cyntaf, debyg, i fod yn deall beth ydy'r problemau sydd efallai'n parhau rŵan oherwydd beth sydd wedi digwydd, a hefyd Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru ynglŷn ag adfer y tir ac unrhyw waith sydd angen digwydd o ran yr ochr natur o bethau. Ond rydych chi'n iawn, mae hwn yn ein dychryn ni ac yn gwneud i ni sylweddoli difrifoldeb y sefyllfa o ran yr hinsawdd, yr argyfwng natur a hinsawdd rydyn ni'n wynebu yma. Dwi ddim yn meddwl y medrith neb ddechrau bod yn gwadu bod hwnna yn real iawn. Rhwng y tanau yma, rhwng y gwres llethol yma, sydd hefyd yn effeithio pobl mewn ffyrdd sydd yn negyddol iawn, mae'n rhaid i ni yn wirioneddol daclo'r argyfwng sydd yn ein hwynebu ni yng Nghymru.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much for bringing this issue forward before the Senedd. One thinks about the people who were affected by this fire. I can only imagine how frightened they must have been during that period when the flames were roaring on the mountain in Penmaenmawr, an area I've very familiar with. Thirty-six households had to flee their homes during the work of putting out the fire, but luckily they could return home on Monday evening. Conwy council provided temporary accommodation for those who needed it, so we are very grateful to Conwy council for their work and very grateful to Natural Resources Wales, and, of course, to the fire service. Fighting wildfires is very difficult and dangerous work, and we need to pay tribute to all the firefighters in north Wales and the partner agencies who responded so quickly to this event and kept communities and people safe. You asked what support the Welsh Government can provide. Well, of course, we are working with local partners. The county council is in all likelihood the first port of call in terms of understanding the problems that may continue now because of what's happened, and also NRW in terms of restoring the land and any work that needs to happen on the nature side of things. But you're right, this is shocking and makes us realise the severity of the situation in terms of the climate, the nature emergency and climate emergency that we're facing here. I don't think anybody could start to deny that that's very real. Between these fires and this incredible heat that we've had, which is also affecting people in very negative ways, we genuinely have to tackle this crisis facing us in Wales.

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30. 3. Topical Questions en

    Thank you for your question, and I'm glad that—.

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31. 3. Topical Questions cy

    Dwi'n falch eich bod chi yn poeni yr un fath â fi am y twf mewn tanau gwyllt, nid yn unig yn eich etholaeth chi ond ar draws Cymru. Mae'r Cabinet, y Llywodraeth, yr wythnos yma wedi bod yn trafod ein cynllun carbon ni fel Llywodraeth, sut ydyn ni yng Nghymru yn mynd i fod yn cyfrannu tuag at y dasg anferth, nid yn unig o daclo newid hinsawdd ond o liniaru ac addasu, fel rydych chi'n sôn. Dwi ddim yn siŵr beth mae'r Alban wedi'i wneud yn union, ond yn sicr mi fyddwn ni'n edrych ar hynny.

    Official English translation

    I am pleased that you, like me, are concerned about the growth in the number of wildfires, not only in your constituency but across the whole of Wales. The Cabinet, the Government, this week have been discussing our carbon plan as a Government, how we in Wales will contribute to the huge task  of not only of tackling climate change, but also mitigating and adapting to it, as you've mentioned. I'm not sure exactly what Scotland has done, but we will certainly look at that.

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32. 3. Topical Questions cy

    Diolch yn fawr iawn, Janet, a dwi'n cyd-fynd efo chi. Y teulu yna lle roedd y tân yn agos iawn at eu cartref nhw, roedd hynny yn ddychrynllyd iawn, onid oedd? Mae'n rhy gynnar i wybod ar hyn o bryd beth wnaeth achosi'r tân penodol yma ar y mynydd ym Mhenmaenmawr. Fel arfer, mae'r tanau yma yn digwydd yn gynt yn y flwyddyn, onid ydyn? Maen nhw'n digwydd rhwng mis Mawrth a mis Mai, ond maen nhw yn gynyddol yn digwydd yn yr haf, sydd eto yn arwydd o'r newid hinsawdd sydd yn digwydd. Ac mi ydych chi'n iawn, dwi'n meddwl bod eisiau i ni gael y neges yna allan, bod eisiau i bobl fod yn hynod ofalus wrth ddefnyddio barbeciws, wrth daflu pennau sigaréts, wrth adael gwydr ar ôl—mae gwydr yn gallu tanio pan fydd haul arno fo, ac yn gallu lledaenu ar draws y llystyfiant sydd yn sych iawn yr adeg yma o'r flwyddyn, a dydyn ni ddim wedi cael fawr ddim glaw. Felly, fel roeddwn i'n dweud, mae eisiau i ni wirioneddol feddwl ein bod ni'n blaenoriaethu taclo'r newid hinsawdd, a'n bod ni'n meddwl am y lliniaru a'r addasu sydd angen digwydd i ni i gyd yn ein bywydau ni. O ran y gefnogaeth a'r cymorth ariannol, mi fydd swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru yn siarad efo'r asiantaethau i gyd rŵan i weld lle'n union y medrwn ni fod yn helpu, beth yn union ydy goblygiadau y tân sydd wedi digwydd.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much, Janet, and I do agree with you. That family there, where the fire was very close to their home, that was very frightening, wasn't it? It's too early to know at present what caused this specific fire on the mountain in Penmaenmawr. Usually these fires happen earlier in the year, don't they? They happen between March and May, but they're increasingly happening in the summer now, which is also an indication of the climate change that is happening. And you're right, I think that we do need to get that messaging out that people need to be very careful when using barbecues, when discarding cigarette butts and when leaving glass behind—glass can cause a fire when there is sunlight on it, and that can spread across the vegetation, which is very dry at this time of year, and we've had very little rain. So, as I said, we really do need to think about prioritising tackling climate change, and think about the mitigation measures and the adaptations that we need to undertake in all our lives. In terms of the support and financial support, Welsh Government officials will be talking to all the agencies now to see exactly where we can help and what exactly the implications of the fire are.

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1. 10. Short Debate: Aiming high for our high streets—Solutions for Bangor Conwy Môn cy

   Diolch yn fawr, Ddirprwy Lywydd, a diolch yn fawr iawn i Mair Rowlands am ddod â'r ddadl bwysig yma i'r Senedd. Mae'n fater sy'n bwysig nid yn unig i gymunedau ym Mangor Conwy Môn, ond yn fater pwysig ar draws Cymru gyfan, ac mae Peredur Owen Griffiths wedi tynnu'n sylw ni at y sefyllfa yng Nghasnewydd. Diolch hefyd i Elfed am sôn yn benodol am gymunedau gwledig sydd hefyd yn wynebu rhwystrau. Mae'r stryd fawr a chael stryd fawr fywiog yn galon i'n cymunedau ni ac i'n heconomïau lleol ni. Mae'r Llywodraeth yma wedi ymrwymo i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n parhau i fod yn llefydd gwydn, yn llefydd amrywiol ac yn llefydd cynaliadwy i'r dyfodol. Dwi'n gyfarwydd iawn efo stryd fawr Bangor ac efo dinas Bangor. Roedd yn fraint imi fod yn cynrychioli'r ddinas yma yn y Senedd ddiwethaf. Mae'n braf gweld Mair yn parhau i ymorol dros Fangor a dros y stryd fawr. Dŷn ni'n gwybod bod cyflwr rhannau o'r stryd fawr a'r defnydd ohonyn nhw yn peri pryder gweladwy i bobl leol. Mae'r sefyllfa ym Mangor yn adlewyrchu newidiadau strwythurol ehangach yn y ffordd y mae pobl yn siopa, yn gweithio ac yn defnyddio canol ein trefi ni. Ar draws Bangor Conwy Môn, dŷn ni'n gweld pwysau tebyg, ac ar draws Cymru yn ogystal: eiddo gwag, newid o ran faint sy'n ymweld â'r stryd fawr, pobl yn cael eu denu i'r canolfannau tu allan i'r canolfannau trefol traddodiadol, a'r angen i ddod ag adeiladau yn ôl i ddefnydd. Mae'r rhain i gyd yn rhan o'r darlun cyfarwydd i ni ar draws Cymru. Ond mae yna gyfleoedd clir hefyd, ac mae'n rhaid inni fynd ati i ailddiffinio canol ein trefi ni ar gyfer y dyfodol. Dim ond os byddan nhw'n esblygu y bydd canol ein trefi ni'n llwyddo, ac rydyn ni yn y Llywodraeth yma'n benderfynol o gefnogi'r newid hwnnw. Mae yna rywfaint o waith adfywio i'w weld ar draws Cymru ac ar draws rhanbarth Bangor Conwy Môn. Mae gweithio efo awdurdodau lleol a phartneriaid i gyflawni newid gwirioneddol ar lawr gwlad yn dechrau digwydd mewn sawl lle. Er gwaetha'r problemau ym Mangor, mae yna gamau wedi cael eu cymryd i dargedu mynd i'r afael ag eiddo gwag a chefnogi'r gwaith o ailddefnyddio adeiladau allweddol. Mae hyn yn digwydd ochr yn ochr â gwaith i gryfhau'r cysylltiadau rhwng canol y ddinas, y brifysgol, Pontio a Storiel, er mwyn cynyddu nifer yr ymwelwyr. Ac ar draws Conwy, mae yna waith yn digwydd ar brosiectau fel safle Plas yn Dre yn Llanrwst i ddatgloi safle canol tref allweddol ar gyfer ei ddatblygu yn y dyfodol. Mae hynny'n cynnwys tai a defnydd masnachol, gan ddangos sut mae mynd ati i adfywio mewn trefi gwledig a chanolfannau mwy fel ei gilydd.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you very much to Mair Rowlands for bringing this important debate to the Senedd. It's an issue that's important not only to communities in Bangor Conwy Môn, but it's an important issue across the whole of Wales, as Peredur Owen Griffiths has highlighted in terms of the situation in Newport. Thank you also to Elfed for giving specific attention to rural communities that are also facing barriers. The high street and having a vibrant high street is at the heart of our communities and our local economies. This Government is committed to ensuring that they continue to be resilient, diverse and sustainable places for the future. I am very familiar with Bangor high street and with the city of Bangor. It was a privilege to represent that city in the last Senedd. It's good to see Mair continuing to advocate for Bangor and for the high street there. We know that the state of parts of the high street and the use of the high street are a visible cause of concern for local people. The situation in Bangor reflects structural changes more broadly in the way people shop, work and use our town centres. Across Bangor Conwy Môn, we see similar pressures, and the same is true across the whole of Wales too: vacant properties, a change in the numbers actually visiting the high street, people being attracted to out-of-town shopping centres beyond the traditional town centres, and the need to bring buildings back into use. These are all things that we have become familiar with across Wales. But there are clear opportunities too, and we must redefine our town centres for the future. It's only if they evolve that town centres will succeed, and we in this Government are determined to support that change. There is some regeneration work to be seen across Wales and across the Bangor Conwy Môn constituency. Working with local authorities and partners to deliver real change on the ground is starting to happen in a number of different areas. Despite the problems in Bangor, steps have been taken to target vacant properties and to support the work of reusing key buildings. This is happening alongside the work to strengthen the links between the town centre, the university, Pontio and Storiel, in order to increase the number of visitors. And across Conwy, there is work happening on projects such as the Plas yn Dre site in Llanrwst in order to unlock a key town-centre site for development in the future. That includes housing and commercial developments, showing how we can regenerate rural towns and larger centres alike.

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2. 10. Short Debate: Aiming high for our high streets—Solutions for Bangor Conwy Môn cy

   Mewn ardaloedd eraill ar draws y rhanbarth, dŷn ni'n gweld lle mae gwaith adfywio yn creu canlyniadau cadarnhaol, mewn trefi fel Bethesda a Blaenau Ffestiniog. Mae buddsoddiad wedi cefnogi gwaith adfywio o dan arweiniad y gymuned, lle mae partneriaid lleol wedi perchnogi eiddo canol trefi a'u defnyddio nhw'n llwyddiannus unwaith eto fel busnesau cymunedol a gwasanaethau. Mae hyn yn cynnwys gwaith sy'n digwydd efo sefydliadau fel Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog, Antur Stiniog ym Mlaenau Ffestiniog a Tabernacl (Bethesda) Cyf ym Methesda, lle mae cymorth Llywodraeth Cymru wedi helpu mewn blynyddoedd diweddar i sbarduno gweithgarwch economaidd ehangach ac adfywio dros y tymor hwy. Ar Ynys Môn, mae'r gefnogaeth yn helpu i gyflwyno prosiectau mewn llefydd fel Caergybi sy'n canolbwyntio ar adfywio, gweithgarwch economaidd a gwella'r arlwy yng nghanol y dre, ochr yn ochr â chynlluniau fel terfynfa forol Amlwch, sy'n gwneud defnydd o safleoedd allweddol unwaith eto ac yn cefnogi swyddi. Mae hyn yn adlewyrchu dull sy'n seiliedig ar leoedd, gan weithio efo partneriaid lleol i ymateb i'r heriau a'r cyfleoedd penodol ymhob ardal, a sicrhau bod gwaith adfywio yn cael ei wreiddio yn anghenion cymunedau lleol. Mae dull o greu canolfannau trefi bywiog defnydd cymysg sy'n diwallu anghenion cymunedau rŵan ac yn y dyfodol yn hollbwysig i'r Llywodraeth yma. Ond, wrth gwrs, rhan o'r darlun ydy hynny. Dŷch chi i gyd yn gyfarwydd iawn â'r ochr arall sydd i bethau hefyd. Felly, mae'n hanfodol ein bod ni'n parhau i gefnogi canol trefi i barhau i fod yn berthnasol i sut mae pobl yn byw. Mae hynny'n golygu dod â mwy o gartrefi i ganol trefi, gwneud gwell defnydd o ofodau uwchben siopau a sicrhau bod gwasanaethau, busnesau a gweithgarwch cymunedol yn datblygu yng nghanol ein trefi ni. Ac mae hynny'n cydnabod bod angen atebion gwahanol ar gyfer gwahanol lefydd, boed hynny'n cryfhau cysylltiadau mewn canolfannau mwy fel Bangor, neu ddatgloi cyfleoedd newydd mewn trefi llai a gwledig fel Llanrwst a'r rheini ar draws Ynys Môn. Mae angen gwneud llawer iawn mwy. Dŷn ni i gyd yn gwybod hynny. Wrth edrych ymlaen, dwi yn benderfynol o wneud mwy i fynd i'r afael â'r heriau strwythurol sy'n wynebu'n strydoedd mawr. Mae hyn yn cynnwys diwygio ardrethi busnes, fel yr oedd yr Aelod yn holi, ac fel, dwi'n meddwl, yr oedd Mair hefyd yn sôn, yr angen i greu balans gwell o ran ardrethi busnes. Felly, mae'r gwaith yna wedi cychwyn i gefnogi busnesau'r strydoedd mawr yn well. Mae o'n cynnwys cefnogaeth barhaus i'r sector lletygarwch a'i gwneud hi'n haws i ddod ag adeiladau yn ôl i ddefnydd. At ei gilydd, mae hyn i gyd yn golygu sicrhau bod canol trefi'n parhau i fod yn llefydd deniadol i redeg busnes, i fuddsoddi ac i dreulio amser ynddyn nhw. Fel rhan o'r gwaith yma, dŷn ni wrthi'n sefydlu tasglu canol trefi fydd yn dod ag arbenigedd at ei gilydd i sbarduno atebion ymarferol a chyflymu'r gwaith cyflawni ar lawr gwlad. Mi fydd y tasglu'n canolbwyntio ar fynd i'r afael â'r rhwystrau allweddol i adfywio—ac ardrethi busnes, ie, ydy un o'r rhwystrau rheini, ond mae problemau cynllunio, problemau pan mae rhywun eisiau newid defnydd adeilad. Mae yna lot o rwystrau, ond dŷn ni'n benderfynol, drwy'r tasglu yma, i roi ffocws clir ar sut i ddatrys y problemau yna ac ar sut y gall canol ein trefi ni barhau i addasu ac ymateb i anghenion sy'n newid. Ac mae o'n golygu gweithio mewn ffyrdd sydd wedi'u cysylltu â'i gilydd yn well, tynnu partneriaid at ei gilydd yn well a chanolbwyntio ar weithredu, gan sicrhau ein bod ni nid yn unig yn cefnogi gweithgarwch yng nghanol ein trefi ni, ond hefyd yn creu'r amodau cywir ar gyfer newid hirdymor cynaliadwy. Dŷn ni'n parhau i fod wedi ymrwymo i weithio mewn partneriaeth efo awdurdodau lleol, busnesau a chymunedau ar draws Bangor Conwy Môn i gefnogi'r gwaith o adfywio ein stryd fawr ac i wneud yr un math o beth, yn amlwg, ar draws Cymru. Felly, er bod yr heriau yn rhai sylweddol, mae yna hefyd gyfleoedd clir i ail-greu, i ail-lunio, i ailddiffinio canol ein trefi ni i adlewyrchu yn well sut mae pobl yn byw, yn gweithio ac yn treulio eu hamser heddiw. Felly, drwy gydweithio parhaus a ffocws cryf ar gyflawni, mi fyddwn ni'n sicrhau y gall canol ein trefi ni addasu, denu gweithgarwch a ffynnu yn y blynyddoedd i ddod. Felly, diolch yn fawr iawn i'r Aelod am gyflwyno'r ddadl bwysig yma. Dwi'n edrych ymlaen at fanylu ar nifer o'r materion dwi ddim ond wedi cyffwrdd â nhw heddiw, gan gynnwys dod ag adroddiad ar gynnydd efo sefydlu'r tasglu canol trefi o fewn can diwrnod cyntaf y Llywodraeth yma. Diolch.

   Official English translation

   In other areas across the region, we see where regeneration work is bringing about positive outcomes, in towns such as Bethesda and Blaenau Ffestiniog. Investment has supported regeneration work led by the community, where local partners have taken ownership of town-centre properties and used them successfully once again as community businesses and service providers. This includes work that is ongoing with organisations such as Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog, Antur Stiniog in Blaenau Ffestiniog and Tabernacle (Bethesda) Cyf in Bethesda, where Welsh Government support has assisted in recent years to engender economic activities more broadly and to regenerate over the longer term. On Anglesey, the support is helping to introduce projects in places like Holyhead, where there is a focus on regeneration, economic activity and improving the offer in the town centre, along with plans such as the Amlwch marine terminal, which makes use of key sites once again and supports job creation. This does reflect an approach that is place based, working with local partners to respond to the challenges and opportunities in every area, and to ensure that regeneration work is rooted in the needs of local communities. An approach to creating vibrant mixed-use town centres that meet the needs of communities now and for the future is crucially important for this Government. But, of course, that's just part of the picture. You're all very familiar with the other side of the coin too. Therefore, it is crucial that we continue to support our town centres to continue to be relevant to people's daily lives. That means bringing more homes into town centres, making better use of spaces above shops and ensuring that services, business and community activities are developed within our town centres. And that recognises that we need different solutions for different places, be that strengthening connections in larger centres like Bangor, or unlocking new opportunities in smaller rural towns like Llanrwst and those across Anglesey. We do need to do far more. We all know that. In looking to the future, I am determined to do more to tackle the structural challenges facing our high streets. This includes reforming business rates, as the Member asked about, and, I think, as Mair mentioned, the need to create a better balance in terms of business rates. So, that work has commenced in order to support our high-street businesses more effectively. It includes ongoing support for the hospitality sector and making it easier to bring buildings back into use. All taken together, this means ensuring that town centres continue to be attractive spaces to run businesses, to invest and to spend time in them. As part of this work, we are establishing a town-centre taskforce that will bring expertise together to find practical solutions and to accelerate delivery on the ground. The taskforce will focus on addressing the key barriers to regeneration—and business rates, yes, is one of those barriers, but there are issues in planning, issues when one wants to change the use of a building. There are a number of barriers in place, but we are determined, through this taskforce, to give a clear focus on resolving those issues and on how our town centres can continue to adapt and evolve and respond to changing needs and demands. And it does mean working in ways that are better connected, drawing partners together more effectively and focusing on action, in order to ensure that we not only support activities in our town centres, but also create the right conditions for long-term sustainable change. We continue to be committed to working in partnership with local authorities, businesses and communities across Bangor Conwy Môn in order to support the regeneration work on our high streets and to take the same approach, obviously, across Wales. So, although the challenges are great, there are also clear opportunities to reconstruct, redesign and redefine our town centres to better reflect how people live, work and spend their time today. So, through ongoing collaboration and a clear focus on delivery, we will ensure that our town centres can adapt, attract activity and prosper in the coming years. So, thank you very much to the Member for bringing forward this important debate. I look forward to focusing on many of the issues that I've only just touched upon today, including bringing a report on progress on the establishment of the town-centre taskforce within the first 100 days of this Government. Thank you.

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1. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiwn. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cyhoeddi gwybodaeth bob blwyddyn ar wefan StatsCymru am nifer y tai sydd yn cael eu galw yn HMOs—tai â mwy nag un preswylydd—hynny yw, yr ystadegau sydd yn hysbys i awdurdodau lleol. Roedd hyn yn 14,954 ar 31 Mawrth 2025—i'ch sbario chi rhag mynd i chwilio ar StatsWales. Dydy'r data ddim yn cael ei gasglu am breswylwyr.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much for the question. The Welsh Government publishes annual information on the StatsCymru website about the number of homes known as HMOs—houses in multiple occupation—that is, the statistics known to local authorities. This surmounted to 14,954 on 31 March 2025—to save you from going to look at StatsWales. The data is not collected on residents.

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2. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Ein huchelgais ni ydy bod pawb yng Nghymru yn gallu cael tŷ o ansawdd da, am gost fforddiadwy ac yn yr ardal iawn iddyn nhw, gan gynnwys cyn-filwyr, gan gynnwys ffoaduriaid yn ogystal. Roedd eich cwestiwn cyntaf chi ynglŷn â thai amlfeddiannaeth, ac mae'n hysbys bod yna ormodedd o'r math yma o dai yn gallu bod mewn rhai ardaloedd, a bod hynny'n gallu creu problemau. Ond dwi'n troi yn ôl at beth ddywedwyd yn y Siambr yma ddoe, ac yn sefyll yn gadarn efo'r hyn ddywedodd arweinydd Plaid Cymru: nid mewnfudo sy'n achosi'r argyfwng tai, nid ceiswyr lloches sy'n achosi'r argyfwng tai. Dwi'n hapus iawn i ddychwelyd at yr holl faterion sydd ynghlwm efo'r argyfwng tai sydd gennym ni yma yng Nghymru, ond peidiwch â cheisio creu rhaniadau o fewn ein cymdeithas ni drwy drio pwyntio'r bai at un garfan benodol yn ein cymdeithas ni. Yr ateb i'r argyfwng tai—. Mae yna sawl ateb i'r argyfwng tai, ond un ohonyn nhw, yn hollol glir, ydy ein bod ni'n creu cyflenwad mwy o dai cymdeithasol ar gyfer pawb sy'n dymuno bod yn byw yma yng Nghymru.

   Official English translation

   Our ambition is that everyone in Wales should have a quality home, for an affordable price and in the area that is right for them, including veterans, and including refugees too. Your first question was on HMOs, and it is known that there can be too many of these HMOs in certain areas, which can lead to problems. But I would turn back to what was said in this Chamber yesterday, and I stand shoulder to shoulder with the words of the Plaid Cymru leader: it's not immigration that is causing the housing crisis, it's not asylum seekers that are causing the housing crisis. I'm more than happy to return to all of the issues surrounding the housing crisis that we face here in Wales, but don't try to create divisions within our society by trying to point the finger at one specific group in our society. The solution to the housing crisis—well, it's multifaceted, of course, but one of those solutions, clearly, is that we provide a greater supply of social housing for everyone who wishes to live here in Wales.

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3. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Mi ddaru'r Ddeddf Digartrefedd a Dyrannu Tai Cymdeithasol (Cymru) 2026 gael Cydsyniad Brenhinol ar 1 Ebrill. Mi fydd y Ddeddf yma yn helpu i gael gwared ar rwystrau a heriau sy'n wynebu ffoaduriaid newydd yn ystod y cyfnod lloches symud ymlaen, yn bennaf trwy wella mynediad at wasanaethau digartrefedd a thai cymdeithasol i bob person cymwys. Mae'r Ddeddf, wrth gwrs, yn anelu at wneud digartrefedd yng Nghymru yn beth prin, byr a heb gael ei ailadrodd. Mae hyn yn drawsnewidiad sylweddol o'r system, ac mae'n debygol y bydd hyn o fudd i ffoaduriaid newydd, sy'n aml mewn perygl uchel o ddigartrefedd ar ôl gadael llety lloches. Mae'r gweithredoedd dŷn ni'n eu cymryd yng Nghymru i gefnogi pobol sy'n chwilio am loches, ac sydd o fewn ein pŵer datganoledig, yn bennaf yn seiliedig ar atal tlodi a pheidio ag ychwanegu pwysau ar ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Dŷn ni, fel Llywodraeth, wedi ymrwymo i warchod y weledigaeth genedlaethol, y weledigaeth ryngwladol, o genedl noddfa, ac i sicrhau bod ein hegwyddorion yn cael eu hymgorffori ar draws polisi, yn cynnwys yn y maes tai.

   Official English translation

   The Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Act 2026 was given Royal Assent on 1 April. This legislation will help to remove barriers and challenges facing newly arrived refugees during the moving-on period, mainly by improving access to homelessness services and social housing for all who qualify. The Act, of course, aims to make homelessness in Wales rare, short-lived and unrepeated. This is a significant transformation of the system, and it is likely that this will benefit newly arrived refugees, who are often at high risk of homelessness having left refuge accommodation. The actions that we are taking in Wales to support those seeking refuge, and that are within our devolved powers, are mainly based around preventing poverty and not increasing pressures on public services. We, as a Government, are committed to protecting that national and international vision of a nation of sanctuary, and to ensure that our principles are incorporated across policy areas, including housing.

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4. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Diolch am y cwestiwn. Mi fyddwn ni’n cydweithio efo Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru i fwrw ymlaen efo argymhellion y Comisiwn Cymunedau Cymraeg, cyn belled a'u bod nhw'n ymwneud efo cynllunio, sydd yn fy mhortffolio i. Mi fydd tystiolaeth leol yn hanfodol i ddod o hyd i’r dulliau polisi cywir fydd yn cefnogi’r Gymraeg mewn cymunedau ar hyd a lled Cymru.

   Official English translation

   Thank you for the question. We will be working together with the Welsh Local Government Association to press ahead with the Commission for Welsh-speaking Communities' recommendations that relate to planning, which is in my portfolio. Local evidence will be essential to find the right policy approaches that will support the Welsh language in communities across Wales.

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5. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Diolch yn fawr iawn. Dwi'n ymwybodol iawn o'r pwysau sydd ar yr iaith Gymraeg nid yn unig yn eich ardal chi, ond ar draws yr ardaloedd yn y gorllewin, a thu hwnt, i fod yn onest—yr ardaloedd lle mae'r Gymraeg yn iaith fyw o ddydd i ddydd. Mae'n rhaid i ni wneud popeth o fewn ein gallu i warchod a hyrwyddo'r iaith Gymraeg yn yr ardaloedd yna. Mae'r Gymraeg yn rhan hanfodol o hunaniaeth ddiwylliannol Cymru, wrth gwrs, ac mae'n rhaid i'r Llywodraeth yma fynd ati o ddifri, rŵan, i edrych ar y system gynllunio a sut y bydd y system gynllunio yn gallu cynnal y Gymraeg a ddim gweithio yn erbyn y Gymraeg. Mae'r gwaith y mae'r comisiwn wedi ei wneud o gwmpas yr ochr gynllunio yn ddarn o waith pwysig a gwerthfawr ofnadwy. Un o'u hargymhellion nhw ydy dynodi ardaloedd o arwyddocâd ieithyddol dwysedd uwch, ac mae hyn yn bwysig er mwyn diogelu cymunedau Cymraeg rhag shifft ieithyddol pellach. Felly, rydyn ni'n edrych o ddifri ar yr argymhellion yma. Rydw i wedi gofyn i swyddogion ar draws y Llywodraeth—ac rydw i'n gweithio efo'r Gweinidog dros y Gymraeg, ac rydyn ni'n mynd i fod yn edrych efo'n gilydd i gyflwyno'r ffordd orau o weithredu'r mecanweithiau sydd yn cael eu nodi yn adroddiad y comisiwn. Mi fyddai, yn fy marn i yn sicr, ac ym marn y comisiwn, dynodi ardaloedd o arwyddocâd ieithyddol dwysedd uwch yn gyfrwng pwysig i reoli, adolygu, diwygio neu lunio polisïau a all ddiogelu a chreu amodau ffafriol i'r iaith ffynnu.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much. I am very aware of the pressures on the Welsh language not only in your own area, but across areas of west Wales, and beyond, where the Welsh language is a living language. We must do everything within our ability to protect and promote the Welsh language in those areas. The Welsh language is an integral part of the cultural identity of Wales, of course, and this Government must work in earnest now to look at the planning system and how that planning system can sustain and support the Welsh language, rather than work against its interests. The work carried out by the commission around planning is an important and very valuable piece of work. One of their recommendations is to designate areas of high-density linguistic significance, and this is important in order to safeguard Welsh-speaking communities from further language shift. So, we are looking seriously at these recommendations. I have asked officials across Government—and I am working with the Minister for the Welsh language, and we will be coming together to look at the best ways of implementing the mechanisms set out in the commission's report. In my view, and in the view of the commission, designated areas of high-density linguistic significance would be an important way to review, reform, manage or to formulate policies that can safeguard and create favourable conditions for the Welsh language to prosper.

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6. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Diolch yn fawr, a diolch am fynd ar ôl un o fy mhrif flaenoriaethau i, sef yr ymrwymiad i greu o leiaf 20,000 o gartrefi cymdeithasol—y rheini yn nwylo cyhoeddus dmae hynny'n golygu, wrth gwrs—erbyn 2030. Mae'r ymrwymiad yma yn mynd i allu ein helpu ni i daclo digartrefedd, cadw pobl allan o lety dros dro, lleihau'r rhestrau aros sydd ar draws Cymru ar gyfer tai cymdeithasol a gwneud tai yn fwy fforddiadwy. Mi fyddaf i'n dod â mwy o fanylion ymlaen i chi. Rydych chi'n iawn i ofyn i cwestiynau am beth fydd y cerrig milltir ar hyd y daith, ac rydw i'n awyddus iawn i fod yn edrych ar hynna i gyd ac yn awyddus hefyd i roi mwy o fanylion ynglŷn â sut rydym ni'n diffinio beth sydd yn cyrraedd y targed, a pha fath o dai yn union rydym ni'n sôn amdanyn nhw o fewn hyn. Rydw i wedi bod yn hollol glir, rydw i'n meddwl, fod rhaid i ni fynd i'r afael efo cynyddu'r cyflenwad net o dai cymdeithasol.  Ac o ran beth oeddech chi'n gofyn amdano yn gyffredinol hefyd, wrth gwrs, mae eisiau gwneud tai yn fwy fforddiadwy i bobl sydd yn prynu am y tro cyntaf ac mae eisiau meddwl—ac mi ydyn ni'n meddwl—am yr holl becynnau sydd wedi bod ar gael ar gyfer pobl yn prynu am y tro cyntaf, sydd yn helpu nid yn unig y bobl sydd eisiau symud i mewn i'w cartref eu hunain, ond yn helpu hefyd y sector tai, yn helpu adeiladwyr bychain—yn helpu'r sector tai yn ei gyfanrwyd—hefyd i gael budd allan o unrhyw gymorth mae'r Llywodraeth yn gallu ei gynnig.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much, and I thank you for pursuing one of my main priorities, which is the commitment to build at least 20,000 social homes—which means those in public ownership, of course—by 2030. That commitment is going to help us tackle homelessness, and keep people out of temporary accommodation, and reduce the waiting lists that exist across Wales for social housing and make housing more affordable. I will bring forward more details. You are right to ask the questions regarding what the milestones will be along that journey, and I am very keen to look at that and keen also to provide more details around how we define what counts as reaching the target and what kind of housing we are talking about within this policy area. I think I've been very clear that we need to tackle increasing the net supply of social housing.  And in terms of what you asked about in general terms, yes, we need to make housing more affordable for first-time buyers, and we need to think—and we are thinking—about all of the packages that have been available for first-time buyers, which help not only the people who want to move into their own homes, but also help the housing sector and small building companies—the housing sector in its entirety—and ensure that they benefit from any support that the Government can provide.

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7. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Diolch yn fawr. Dydw i ddim cweit yn cyd-fynd efo'r darlun rydych chi'n ei roi o system gynllunio wedi torri yn llwyr. Oes, mae yna heriau mawr o fewn y system gynllunio ac mae swyddogion cynllunio yn gweithio dan amodau anodd iawn. Yn aml iawn, adrannau cynllunio cynghorau sir sydd wedi cael eu torri oherwydd bod cynghorau sir yn trio gwarchod y gwasanaethau hynny sy'n diogelu'r bobl fwyaf bregus, fel addysg a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol. Mae adrannau cynllunio wedi, yn sicr, cael eu heffeithio yn anghymesur oherwydd polisïau llymder yn y pen draw—llai o arian yn dod i wasanaethau cyhoeddus a'r rheini'n gorfod gwneud penderfyniadau caled. Ond rydw i'n cytuno efo chi fod angen adolygu sut fedrwn ni wneud y system gynllunio yn fwy deniadol, mewn ffordd, ar gyfer datblygu a chreu cyflenwad digonol o dai cymdeithasol a materion eraill hefyd. Felly, mae gennym ni gynlluniau ar y gweill, ac mae'r trafodaethau yna wedi cychwyn ynglŷn â chreu system gynllunio sydd yn fwy hygyrch ac yn fwy perthnasol i'r datblygiadau rydym ni'n deisyfu eu creu.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much. I don't entirely agree with the picture that you've painted in terms of an entirely broken planning system. Yes, there are great challenges within the system and planning officials are working under very difficult conditions. Very often, it's the planning departments of county councils that have been cut because county councils are trying to protect those services that protect the most vulnerable people, such as education and social services. Planning departments, certainly, have been affected disproportionately because of austerity policies ultimately—less money coming to public services and difficult decisions having to be made. But I do agree with you that we do need to review how we can make the planning system more attractive, in a way, for the creation and development of an adequate supply of social housing, and other issues as well. So, we do have plans in the pipeline, and those discussions have started as regards the creation of a planning system that is more accessible and more relevant to the developments that we wish to create.

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8. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Mae'n hollol amlwg fod angen creu gwydnwch o fewn ein hawdurdodau lleol ni. Maen nhw o dan bwysau sylweddol iawn, ond dwi ddim yn credu bod beth rydych chi'n ei awgrymu yn ffordd o drio cyrraedd at hynny, a bod yn onest. Dwi'n credu bod angen i ni fod yn gweithio efo llywodraeth leol. Dwi wedi sylwi, ym maniffesto Reform, eich bod chi'n sôn am gosbi neu roi cyfyngiadau ar lywodraeth leol os nad ydyn nhw'n gwneud hyn a'r llall ac arall. Nid dyna ffordd y Llywodraeth yma. Ffordd y Llywodraeth yma ydy gweithio mewn partneriaeth efo llywodraeth leol. Mi ydym ni'n edrych ar y strategaeth bartneriaeth ac, yn fanna, mae'r trafodaethau yn mynd i fod o gwmpas sut i gryfhau gwydnwch llywodraeth leol, a dwi'n edrych ymlaen yn fawr at y trafodaethau yna. Dwi'n mynd i gynhadledd Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru yfory, fel mae'n digwydd, lle bydd y trafodaethau yna'n digwydd. Yn y ffordd yna, dwi'n meddwl, mae gweithio'r efo llywodraeth leol, nid gosod rhyw set o ofynnion arnyn nhw, fel yr oeddech chi'n awgrymu.

   Official English translation

   It is very clear that we need to create some resilience within our local authorities. They are under significant pressure, but I don't think that what you're suggesting is a way of trying to attain that, to be honest. I think that we need to work with local government. I noticed that, in the Reform manifesto, you talk about penalising or imposing restrictions on local authorities if they don't do this, that and the other. Well, that's not the way of this Government. The way of this Government is to work in partnership with local government. We are looking at the partnership strategy and, in that regard, the discussions will be around how we strengthen the resilience of local government, and I'm looking forward greatly to those discussions. I'm going to the WLGA conference tomorrow, as it happens, where those discussions will take place. That's how I think we should collaborate with local government, rather than imposing a set of requirements on them, as you suggested.

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9. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning en

   Sorry, Mike, can you just repeat the last—?

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10. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr iawn, Mike, a diolch yn fawr iawn i chi am y gydnabyddiaeth yna o'r profiad sydd gen i fel cyn-aelod o gabinet a chyn-ddirprwy arweinydd cyngor hefyd. Yn amlwg, mae'r pwysau sydd yn wynebu awdurdodau lleol, fel roedden ni'n sôn, yn bwysau sylweddol iawn. Fedraf i ddim ateb eich cwestiwn chi ar ei ben, mae arnaf ofn, Mike—fuasech chi ddim yn disgwyl i fi fedru gwneud, dwi'n siŵr iawn o hynny—ond mi wnaf i edrych i weld os medrwn ni gael y wybodaeth yna i chi.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much, Mike, and thank you very much for that recognition of the experience that I have as a former cabinet member and a former deputy leader of a council, too. Clearly, the pressures facing our local authorities, as I've already mentioned, are very great indeed. I can't answer your question directly, Mike—I don't think you'd expect me to do that—but I will look to see if we can find that information for you.

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11. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning en

    Good.

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12. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi, Mike, am y cwestiynnau yna. O ran y gyllideb, wrth gwrs, mi oedden ni, fel plaid, yn hapus iawn ein bod ni wedi gallu negodi efo'ch Llywodraeth chi—y Llywodraeth Lafur flaenorol—£112.1 miliwn o gyllid ychwanegol i awdurdodau lleol i sicrhau bod hynny ar gael ar gyfer 2026-27. Mae hi'n gyfnod hynod o heriol, wrth gwrs, a dwi'n siŵr y bydd y Gweinidog cyllid yn amlinellu mwy am yr her yna yn fuan iawn. Rydyn ni'n deall y pwysau sydd ar ysgolion ac awdurdodau lleol, ac yn enwedig ar deuluoedd, ac yn enwedig ym maes cefnogi anghenion pob dysgwr, a'r rhai efo anghenion dysgu ychwanegol ynghlwm efo hynny. Dydy'r system addysg a'r trefniadau cyllidol ddim yr un fath yng Nghymru a Lloegr, wrth gwrs, ac mae'n amlwg bod pwysau ariannol sylweddol mewn awdurdodau lleol, ysgolion, yn ein gwlad ni yn ogystal ag yn Lloegr. A dwi'n gwybod eu bod nhw wedi gorfod gwneud penderfyniadau anodd iawn i reoli hyn. Mae'n rhaid inni rŵan symud ymlaen i weithio efo'n partneriaid i ddatblygu cynllun trawsnewid hirdymor, clir ar gyfer anghenion dysgu ychwanegol—un clir, un penodol ac un amserol—i sicrhau bod y sector yn gallu cefnogi anghenion dysgwyr yn ogystal â bod yn gynaliadwy yn weithredol.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much, Mike, for those questions. In terms of the budget, of course, we as a party were very happy to have been able to negotiate with your Government—the previous Labour Government—£112.1 million of additional funding for local authorities in order to ensure that that funding was available for 2026-27. It is an extremely challenging period, of course, and I'm sure that the finance Minister will tell us more about the challenge very soon. We do understand the pressures on schools and local authorities, and particularly the pressures on families and in the area of supporting the needs of all learners, including those with ALN. The education system and the budgetary arrangements aren't the same in Wales as they are in England, of course, and it's clear that there are significant financial pressures in local education authorities in this country as well as in England. And I know that they've had to make very difficult decisions to manage this situation. We must now progress in working with our partners to develop a long-term, clear transformation plan for ALN—one that is specific, clear and timely—to ensure that the sector can support the needs of learners as well as being operationally sustainable.

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13. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr iawn, Peter. Roedd eich cwestiwn cyntaf chi ynglŷn â'r fformiwla ariannu, ac rydym ni eisoes wedi cychwyn ar y gwaith o adolygu fformiwla ariannu llywodraeth leol i sicrhau ei bod hi'n adlewyrchu gwir gost darparu gwasanaethau mewn gwahanol rannau o Gymru. Mi oeddech chi'n holi am ailstrwythuro llywodraeth leol. Dydy ailstrwythuro llywodraeth leol ddim yn flaenoriaeth i'r Llywodraeth yma. Fydd hynny ddim yn digwydd yn ystod cyfnod y Senedd yma. Ond, wrth gwrs, mae yna nifer o bethau y gallem ni fod yn gweithio arnyn nhw ar y cyd efo llywodraeth leol i leihau biwrocratiaeth a phrosesau a chanolbwyntio ar gyflawni. Dyna le mae'r cytundeb partneriaeth sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru hefo llywodraeth leol yn werthfawr ofnadwy, er mwyn inni gyd-drafod ein blaenoriaethau ac edrych tua'r dyfodol. Dwi'n dweud does yna ddim ailstrwythuro llywodraeth leol, ond mae angen edrych ar y rhanbartholi sydd wedi digwydd yn raddol drwy'r drws gefn. Ydy hwnna'n ffit i bwrpas ym mhob achos? Dwi'n meddwl bod cyfle i wneud gwaith o gwmpas yr agwedd ranbarthol o lywodraeth leol.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much, Peter. Your first question was about the funding formula, and we have already started the work of reviewing the local government funding formula to ensure that it does reflect the true cost of providing services in different parts of Wales. You asked about restructuring of local government. Well, restructuring local government is not a priority for this Government. That won't happen during this Senedd term. But, of course, there are a number of things that we could be working on collaboratively with local government to reduce bureaucracy and processes and focus on delivery. That's where the partnership agreement that the Welsh Government has with local government is extremely valuable, so that we can discuss jointly our priorities and look to the future. I say that there's no restructuring of local government, but we do need to look at the regionalisation that's happened gradually by the back door. Is that fit for purpose in every case? I think that there is an opportunity to undertake work on the regional aspect of local government.

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14. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Yn sicr, mae unrhyw fath o newidiadau angen eu trafod yn fanwl, a phenderfyniadau yn cael eu gwneud efo'n gilydd. Dwi'n mynd yn ôl at y pwynt yna dro ar ôl tro. Dyna pam rydym ni wedi ymrwymo i adnewyddu'r cytundeb partneriaeth strategol efo awdurdodau lleol er mwyn sefydlu'r berthynas waith gadarnhaol yna efo awdurdodau lleol ar hyd a lled Cymru. Ac mae hwnna yn rhoi cyfle arbennig i ni fod yn trafod goblygiadau unrhyw fath o fater polisi sydd yn cael ei ystyried gan Lywodraeth Cymru ac sydd â goblygiadau i lywodraeth leol. Bydd hynna i gyd yn cael ei drafod mewn ysbryd adeiladol o gydweithio.

    Official English translation

    Certainly, any kind of changes need to be discussed in great detail, and decisions need to be made jointly. I return to that point time and again. That's why we have committed to renew the strategic partnership agreement with local authorities in order to establish that positive working relationship with local authorities across Wales. And that does provide a great opportunity for us to be discussing the implications of any kind of policy issue that is considered by the Welsh Government and that has implications for local government. That will all be discussed in a constructive spirit of collaboration.

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15. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr iawn. Mi fyddwn ni’n canolbwyntio ar sicrhau cynnydd yn y cyflenwad o dai cymdeithasol ar draws Cymru. Mi fydd hynny’n cynnwys drwy adfywio canol trefi mewn aneddiadau mwy, yn ogystal ag adeiladu rhagor o gartrefi newydd ar safleoedd tir llwyd.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much. We will focus on ensuring an increase in social housing supply across Wales. That will include regenerating town centres in larger settlements, as well as building more new homes on brownfield sites.

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16. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr iawn, ac, yn anffodus, mae beth rydych chi'n ei ddisgrifio yn rhywbeth sydd yn llawer rhy gyfarwydd i minnau hefyd, fel Aelod lleol. Mae inbox rhywun yn llawn, onid ydy, o broblemau oherwydd yr argyfwng tai. Mi ydym ni mewn argyfwng tai, does yna ddim dwywaith am hynny, ac mae'r effeithiau ar bobl go iawn yn cael eu teimlo mewn sefyllfaoedd fel yna—pobl yn byw mewn tŷ lle does yna ddim digon o le i bawb, ac yn ysu i fedru cael cartref digonol, cartref cymdeithasol, oherwydd bod y rhent yn fforddiadwy. Felly, dwi'n cydymdeimlo'n fawr efo'r teulu yna. Yr ateb ar ddiwedd y dydd ydy cynyddu'r cyflenwad o dai cymdeithasol. Mae gennym ni lawer iawn o dai cymdeithasol neu fforddiadwy ar y gweill, gan gynnwys 359 yn eich etholaeth chi, sydd i fod i gael eu cwblhau yn ystod 2026-27. Roeddech chi'n gofyn am y rhestr aros. Dydy'r wybodaeth yna ddim gen i i law, a dwi'n ymwybodol bod yna dri, os nad pedwar, cyngor sir ynghlwm efo'ch etholaeth chi, a'r cynghorau sir sydd yn casglu'r wybodaeth yna ac yn dal y gofrestr tai. Ond dwi'n gwybod, drwy waith mae Shelter Cymru wedi ei wneud, fod tua 140,000 o bobl ar draws Cymru yn disgwyl ar restrau aros. Efallai fod y ffigur yna wedi cynyddu erbyn hyn. Dydy hwnna ddim yn ddata mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn uniongyrchol yn eu casglu, ond dwi eisiau gweld ni fel Llywodraeth yn gallu cael mynediad at ac yn cael y data yna, fel ein bod ni'n bod yn hollol dryloyw ynglŷn â'r sefyllfa. Diolch.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much, and, unfortunately, the scenario that you described is far too familiar to me too, as a local Member. One's inbox gets full, doesn't it, with problems created by the housing crisis. We are in housing crisis, there is no doubt about that, and the impacts on real people are felt in those situations—people live in homes where there isn't enough room for everyone, and they are desperate to have an adequate home, a social home, because the rent is affordable. So, I do very much sympathise with that family's plight. The solution at the end of the day is to increase the supply of social housing. We do have a lot of social or affordable housing in the pipeline, including 359 in your own constituency, which should be completed during 2026-27. Now, you asked about the waiting list. I don't have that information to hand, and I know that there are three if not four local authorities attached to your own constituency, and it's the local authorities that gather that data and hold the housing register. But I do know, through the work of Shelter Cymru, that around 140,000 people across Wales are on waiting lists. That figure may have increased by now. That isn't data that the Welsh Government directly gathers, but I do want to see us as a Government being able to access that information and to get hold of that data, so that we can be entirely transparent on the situation. Thank you.

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17. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr—cwestiwn pwysig. Mi fyddwn ni'n gweithredu pecyn o fesurau i amddiffyn pobl sy'n rhentu, ac yn bwrw ymlaen hefyd efo mesurau i sicrhau bod rhenti teg yn cael eu gosod fel bod pris rhentu cartref mor fforddiadwy â phosib.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much; it's an important question. We will implement a package of measures aimed at protecting renters, and we will also press ahead with measures to ensure that fair rents are set so that the price of renting a home is as affordable as possible.

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18. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr. Dwi yn credu bod gwella effeithlonrwydd ynni llety rhentu preifat yn hanfodol. Mae amcangyfrif yn dangos bod 30 y cant o rentwyr preifat yng Nghymru yn byw mewn tlodi tanwydd, sy'n sylweddol uwch na'r gyfradd mewn tai cymdeithasol neu gartrefi mae pobl yn berchen arnyn nhw. Dwi'n cydnabod y pryder ynghylch y costau i landlordiaid, ac i denantiaid os ydy'r costau yna yn cael eu pasio ymlaen drwy'r rhent. Yn y pen draw, mae gwella effeithlonrwydd ynni yn allweddol i leihau biliau ynni a mynd i'r afael â thlodi tanwydd, ond mae'n rhaid iddo fod yn ymarferol. Mi wnes i gyfarfod wythnos diwethaf y Gweinidog defnyddwyr ynni Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig, ac mi wnes i gefnogi ac egluro wrtho fo ein bod ni’n cefnogi'r targed o gyrraedd safon EPC C erbyn 2030. Mi wnes i wneud yn glir hefyd fod yna nifer o landlordiaid yng Nghymru sydd ddim yn landlordiaid proffesiynol a byddaf i eisiau eu cefnogi nhw i ddeall eu rhwymedigaethau nhw o dan y safon newydd yma, neu'r ymgyrhaeddiad newydd, ac i gael mynediad at gyngor ar fesurau priodol a chost effeithiol. Felly, rydym ni'n awyddus i gefnogi yn y symudiad yna. Roeddech chi'n holi am renti teg, ac yn sicr mae'r sefyllfa yn mynd yn waeth, mae'n ymddangos. Mae rhent misol preifat Cymru yn £834 ar gyfartaledd ym mis Ebrill 2026, sef cynnydd o 4.9 y cant, neu £39, o'i gymharu ar y flwyddyn gynt. Ond, wrth gwrs, mae'r sefyllfa yn amrywio llawer o ardal i ardal. Mae’r cynnydd mwyaf wedi bod ym Mhowys, 9.8 y cant, Castell Nedd Port Talbot, 9.2 y cant, Caerffili, 8 y cant, ac yn y blaen. Felly, mae angen i fynd i'r afael â hyn, ac mi wnaf i ddod â mwy o wybodaeth ymlaen ynglŷn â sut yn union rydym ni'n mynd i fod yn edrych ar reoli rhenti, ac yn edrych ar waith mewn gwahanol wledydd ar draws y byd sydd wedi llwyddo i wneud hyn yn llwyddiannus.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much. I do believe that improving the energy efficiency of private rented accommodation is vital. Estimates show that 30 per cent of private renters in Wales live in fuel poverty, which is significantly higher than the percentage of those in social homes or homes that people own. But I do recognise the concern about the costs for landlords, and for tenants if those costs are passed on through rent. Ultimately, improving energy efficiency is vital to reduce energy bills and to tackle fuel poverty, but it has to be practicable. I did meet last week the Minister for energy users in the UK Government, and I explained to him that we support attainment of the EPC C target by 2030. I did make it clear also that a number of landlords in Wales are not professional landlords and that I'd want to support them to understand their obligations under the new standard, and to have access to advice on cost-effective and appropriate measures. So, we're keen to support landlords in that context. In terms of fair rents, certainly the situation is deteriorating, it appears. Private monthly rent in Wales is £834 on average in April 2026, which is a 4.9 per cent increase, or a £39 increase, compared with the previous year. But, of course, the situation does vary from area to area. The biggest increase has been in Powys, 9.8 per cent, and Neath Port Talbot, 9.2 per cent, and Caerphilly, 8 per cent, and so forth. So, there is a need for us to tackle this issue, and I will be bringing more information forward about how exactly we intend to look at managing rents, and we'll be looking at work in different countries around the world that have succeeded in doing this successfully.

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19. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Y prif ffrydiau ariannu ar gyfer y targed ydy'r grant tai cymdeithasol a'r rhaglen gyfalaf llety trosiannol. Rydym ni hefyd yn sefydlu Unnos, fydd yn gweithio'n agos efo awdurdodau lleol a chymdeithasau tai i hwyluso mynediad at gyllid a helpu cynlluniau i sicrhau buddsoddiad.

    Official English translation

    The main funding streams for the target are the social housing grant and the transitional accommodation capital programme. We are also establishing Unnos, which will work closely with local authorities and housing associations to facilitate access to finance and help schemes to secure investment.

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20. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig sy'n gwneud penderfyniadau am lety i geiswyr lloches. Dydy tai cymdeithasol ddim ar gael i geiswyr lloches sydd yn disgwyl am benderfyniad. Mae hynny'n hollol glir. Y ffigur—. A ydych chi'n gwybod faint o geiswyr lloches sydd yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd—unrhyw syniad o gwbl faint sydd yma? Dydy’r ffigur ddim yn cael ei gasglu gan Lywodraeth Cymru, fel roeddwn i’n esbonio yn gynharach, ond mae Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig, y Swyddfa Gartref, yn casglu'r wybodaeth, a’r ffigur sydd gen i ydy o gwmpas 3,400 o geiswyr lloches. Pobl ydy’r rhain sydd yn ffoi rhag erchyllterau, erchyllterau rhyfel, pethau fedrwn ni yn y Siambr yma dim ond yn dychmygu sut fath o fywyd a sut fath o drawma y mae'r bobl yma yn ffoi oddi wrtho. Felly, peidiwch â thrio creu rhaniadau drwy drafod problemau tai yn yr un gwynt â siarad am geiswyr lloches. Dydy'r argyfwng tai ddim byd i wneud efo ceiswyr lloches. Gobeithio bod y neges yna'n cyrraedd at y clustiau sydd angen clywed. Dydy'r argyfwng tai yng Nghymru ddim byd i wneud efo ceiswyr lloches, dydy o ddim byd i wneud efo ffoaduriaid.

    Official English translation

    The UK Government makes decisions on accommodation for asylum seekers. Social housing is not available to asylum seekers who are awaiting decisions. That is entirely clear. The figure—. Do you know how many asylum seekers there are in Wales at the moment—any idea at all how many? The figure, or the data, isn't gathered by the Welsh Government, as I explained earlier, but the UK Government, the Home Office, does gather that data, and the figure that I have is around 3,400 asylum seekers. These are people who are fleeing atrocities and war, things that we in this Chamber can only imagine in terms of the kinds of lives and the kinds of trauma that these people have experienced and are fleeing. So, please don't try and create divisions by discussing housing problems in the same breath as asylum seekers. The housing crisis has nothing to do with asylum seekers. I hope that that message is being heard by those who need to hear that message. The housing crisis in Wales has nothing to do with asylum seekers, it has nothing to do with refugees.

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21. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr iawn, Jayne, am y cwestiwn yna. Yn y Siambr ychydig wythnosau'n ôl, mi wnes i ganmol y gwaith oedd y Llywodraeth, yn gweithio efo landlordiaid cymdeithasol ac awdurdodau lleol, wedi'i wneud i symud y gwaith yma ymlaen o gyrraedd y targed 20,000. Wnaethoch chi ddim cweit ei wneud o, ond dwi'n gobeithio y bydd modd cadarnhau ein bod ni rŵan yn cyrraedd at y targed a osodwyd gan y Llywodraeth flaenorol erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn, ac mae yna gynlluniau ar y gweill sydd yn fy ngwneud i'n hyderus bod hyn yn hollol gyraeddadwy a chredadwy. O ran y tasglu tai fforddiadwy, roeddwn i, fel chi, yn rhan o'r trafodaethau ynglŷn â'r gwaith wnaeth Lee Waters ei arwain o gwmpas y tasglu. Dwi wedi croesawu'r argymhellion yna a dwi'n awyddus i'r argymhellion barhau i gael eu gweithredu, efo canolbwyntio'n benodol o'r cychwyn ar y rhai sy'n cyd-fynd efo'n maniffesto ni a'n huchelgeisiau ni ar gyfer Unnos. Mae'r argymhellion yna'n rhai pwysig iawn inni fod yn eu cario ymlaen, ac mi ddof i'n ôl atoch chi efo dyddiad ar gyfer y cyfarfod cyntaf.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much, Jayne, for that question. In the Chamber just a few weeks ago, I did praise the work that the Government did in working with social landlords and local authorities in terms of progressing this work of attaining that 20,000 target. You didn't quite achieve it, but I very much hope that it will be possible to confirm that we now will attain that target set by the previous Government by the end of the year, and there are plans in place that give me confidence that this is entirely credible and achievable. In terms of the affordable homes taskforce, I, like you, was part of discussions on the work led by Lee Waters around the taskforce. I have welcomed those recommendations and I am eager for those recommendations to continue to be implemented, focusing specifically from the outset on those that align with our manifesto and our ambitions for Unnos. Those recommendations are very important for us to take forward, and I will get back to you with the date for the first meeting.

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22. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch, Lyn. Mae’r gwaith wedi dechrau i sefydlu Unnos a fydd yn galluogi cynyddu ac, yn bwysig iawn, cyflymu’r gwaith o gyflenwi tai cymdeithasol. Bydd Unnos yn gweithio mewn partneriaeth â rhanddeiliaid allweddol i gyflymu’r cyflenwad hirdymor o gartrefi cymdeithasol newydd ledled Cymru drwy helpu i ddatgloi’r rhwystrau rhag cyflawni sy’n bodoli ar hyn o bryd.

    Official English translation

    Thank you, Lyn. Work has begun on the establishment of Unnos, which will allow us to increase and, very importantly, accelerate the supply of social housing. Unnos will work in partnership with key stakeholders to accelerate the long-term supply of new social homes across Wales by helping to overcome the barriers to delivery that currently exist.

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23. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr iawn, Lyn. Rydych chi'n gywir i dynnu sylw at nifer o broblemau yn y fan hyn. Roeddech chi'n cychwyn efo'r local housing allowance, ac yn sicr rydyn ni fel Llywodraeth yn glir ein bod ni'n parhau i alw ar Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig i ddadrewi'r lwfans tai lleol i leihau'r bwlch rhwng rhent a budd-dal tai, gan leihau'r risg o ddigartrefedd i filoedd o deuluoedd a sicrhau eu bod nhw'n gallu cadw i fyny efo rhenti cynyddol. Felly, mi fyddaf i'n gweithio efo'r Gweinidog Cabinet dros Gyllid ar y mater yma'n fuan iawn ac yn gwneud y ddadl yna i Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig. Roeddech chi'n sôn am yr angen i symud i ffwrdd oddi wrth lety dros dro. Wrth gwrs, mae Caerffili yn gwario £8 miliwn ar roi llefydd dros dro i bobl. Mi fyddai'r £8 miliwn yna'n gallu cael ei ddefnyddio llawer iawn gwell, oni fyddai, mewn ffyrdd i gynyddu'r cyflenwad o dai cymdeithasol. Ac yn y darlun mawr, pan fydd pobl yn cwestiynu faint ydy cost sefydlu Unnos, o gymharu efo'r £8 miliwn yna, mi fyddai sefydlu Unnos yn ffordd o fuddsoddi er mwyn bod y ffigwr yna'n diflannu oddi wrth gyngor fel Caerffili a nifer fawr o gynghorau sir sydd ar draws Cymru. Dwi'n falch fy mod i wedi cefnogi'r Ddeddf Digartrefedd a Dyrannu Tai Cymdeithasol (Cymru) 2026—yr un a wnaeth y cyn-Ysgrifennydd Cabinet tai ei harwain drwy'r Senedd diwethaf. Mi fydd hi'n gatalydd ar gyfer diwygio'r system ddigartrefedd yng Nghymru. Mae gofyn i bob rhan o'r system weithio efo'i gilydd i nodi risg cynnar ac atal argyfwng, ac mi fyddwn ni'n cyhoeddi'r cynllun gweithredu ar gyfer y Ddeddf yna'n fuan iawn.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much, Lyn. You are right to draw attention to a number of problems here. You started with the local housing allowance, and certainly we as a Government are clear that we will continue to call on the UK Government to unfreeze the local housing allowance to reduce the gap between rent and housing benefit, and reduce the risk of homelessness for thousands of families and ensure that they can keep up with increasing rental payments. So, I'll be working with the Cabinet Minister for Finance on this issue very soon and will be making the case to the UK Government. You mentioned the need to move away from temporary accommodation. Of course, Caerphilly spends £8 million on providing people with temporary accommodation. Well, that £8 million could be used in far better ways, couldn't it, in terms of increasing the supply of social housing. And, in terms of the big picture, when people question the cost of establishing Unnos, well, when it's compared to that £8 million, the establishment of Unnos would be a way of investing in order to ensure that that figure disappears for a council like Caerphilly and a great number of other councils across Wales. I am pleased that I supported the Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Act 2026, which was brought forward by the previous Cabinet Secretary for housing in the last Senedd. It will be a catalyst for reforming the homelessness system here in Wales. All parts of the system will need to work together to identify early risk and the prevention of crises, and we will be publishing the action plan for that Act very soon.

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24. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr iawn. Mi ydw i'n gweithio efo llywodraeth leol ar y mater yma. Byddaf i’n trafod cyfeiriad yr adolygiad o’r fformiwla ariannu ar gyfer llywodraeth leol efo'r is-grŵp cyllid.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much. I am working with local government on this issue. I will discuss the direction of the review of the funding formula for local government with the finance sub-group.

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25. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr iawn, Safa. A diolch, ie, dwi'n cytuno bod y cytundeb cyllideb a wnaethon ni efo'r Llywodraeth flaenorol yn hanfodol bwysig i lywodraeth leol, a dwi'n credu mai'r ffigwr oedd £112 miliwn. Dwi wedi dweud y ffigwr yna sawl gwaith. Dwi ddim yn dda iawn am gofio ffigyrau fel arfer, ond dwi'n cofio hwnna. Fel y gwnes i nodi yn fy natganiad ar fy mlaenoriaethau'n gynharach yn y mis, mae llywodraeth leol yn bartner allweddol ar draws ystod eang o'n blaenoriaethau ni ar gyfer Cymru, ac mi fyddaf i'n gweithio'n agos efo nhw i sicrhau bod yr awdurdodau lleol yn y sefyllfa gryfaf bosib i ddarparu'r gwasanaethau y mae pob un ohonom ni'n dibynnu arnyn nhw. O ran y fformiwla, medraf gyhoeddi bod yna gyfarfod o grŵp cyllid Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru yn digwydd ar ddechrau Gorffennaf. Rydyn ni wedi disgwyl ychydig bach oherwydd mae newid personél yn y WLGA, efo arweinydd newydd ac yn y blaen, ond un o'r pethau cyntaf y byddwn ni'n ei drafod efo nhw drwy'r grŵp cyllid ydy adolygu'r fformiwla ariannu.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much, Safa. And thanks, yes, I do agree that the budget agreement that we reached with the previous Government was crucially important for local government, and I think the figure was £112 million. I've quoted that figure a number of times. I'm not very good at remembering figures usually, but I remember that one. As I noted in my priorities statement earlier in the month, local government is a key partner across a broad range of our priority areas for Wales, and I will be working closely with them to ensure that local authorities are in the strongest possible position to provide the services that each and every one of us relies upon. In terms of the formula, I can announce that there will be a meeting of the Welsh Local Government Association finance group at the beginning of July. We have paused slightly because there is a change of personnel within the WLGA, with a new leader and so on, but one of the first things that we will be discussing with them through the finance group is a review of the funding formula.

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26. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiwn pwysig yna, a dwi'n cytuno efo chi fod y system dreth gyngor fel y mae hi ar hyn o bryd ddim yn deg. Mae rhai o'r bobl sydd yn ennill y cyflogau isaf yn talu cyfran fwy o'u cyflogau nag ydy pobl sydd yn ennill cyflogau uwch. Dydy'r system ddim yn deg fel y mae hi, ac rydyn ni fel Llywodraeth wedi ymrwymo i edrych ar sut medrwn ni wneud y system yn fwy teg. A dweud y gwir, mae hwn ym mhortffolio'r Gweinidog cyllid yn ogystal â'm un i, so mi fyddaf i'n gweithio efo'r Gweinidog cyllid i ddod â gwybodaeth bellach ichi ynglŷn â sut yn union fyddwn ni'n symud ymlaen a beth ydy'r camau nesaf fydd yn digwydd o gwmpas hyn. Diolch.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much for that important question, and I do agree with you that the council tax system as it currently exists is not fair. Some of the lowest earners are paying a higher proportion of their salaries than those earning higher salaries. The system as it's currently formulated is not fair, and we as a Government have committed to looking at how we can make the system fairer. In fact, this is in the portfolio of the finance Minister as well as mine, so I will work with the finance Minister to bring forward further information as to how exactly we will proceed and what the next steps will be around this issue. Thanks.

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27. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr iawn, Mike. Megis dechrau mae'r trafodaethau ynglŷn â'r fformiwla. Bydd y trafodaethau yna'n digwydd, fel dwi'n dweud, drwy grŵp cyllid y WLGA, sydd yn cynnwys cynrychiolwyr o blith arweinwyr y cynghorau i gyd, ac, wrth gwrs, o dan y grŵp yna mae yna grŵp o swyddogion llywodraeth leol hefyd yn trafod yr holl fater ynglŷn â'r fformiwla. Dwi'n awyddus i edrych ar yr egwyddorion sydd y tu ôl i'r fformiwla, yn ogystal â'r newidiadau o ran mewnbynnu mwy o ddata o gwmpas addysg, er enghraifft, i mewn i'r fformiwla fel mae o ar hyn o bryd. Mae angen edrych o ddifrif ydy'r fformiwla yn ffit i bwrpas o hyd, a meddwl o ddifrif sut ydyn ni'n mynd i greu'r newid. Mae'n debyg fydd pawb, efallai, ddim ar eu hennill drwy newid y fformiwla, ond os ydy rhywun yn dod at y peth mewn ysbryd o greu tegwch ac yn rhoi'r ddadl ymlaen bod angen i'r tegwch yna ddigwydd ar draws Cymru, dwi'n credu bydd modd inni symud ymlaen.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much, Mike. We are just beginning the discussions around the formula. Those negotiations will happen, as I say, through the WLGA finance group, which includes representatives from among all of the council leaders, and, of course, below that group there is a group of local government officers who are also discussing the whole issue around the formula. I am eager to look at the principles underpinning the formula, as well as the changes in terms of inputting more data around education, for example, into that formula as it currently exists. We need to look in earnest at whether the formula is still fit for purpose, and give serious consideration to how we can make that change. It's likely, perhaps, that not everyone will benefit from a change to the formula, but if one approaches it in a spirit of creating fairness and puts the argument forward that that fairness should happen across Wales, then I think we can make progress here.

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28. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Mae ein maniffesto ni yn cynnwys rhagdybiaeth glir o blaid claddu ceblau trydan foltedd uchel, neu ddefnyddio polion pren yn hytrach na thyrau delltog dur. Byddwn yn ymgynghori ar ddiwygio’r polisi i roi’r ymrwymiad yn ein maniffesto ar waith.

    Official English translation

    Our manifesto contains a clear presumption in favour of undergrounding high-voltage electric cables, or using wooden poles instead of steel lattice towers. We will consult on amending the policy to implement the commitment in our manifesto.

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29. 3. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

    Diolch yn fawr. O ran y fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol newydd, sydd yn rhywbeth sydd yn fy mhortffolio i, dwi'n bwriadu cyhoeddi datganiad ynghylch ymgysylltu â'r cyhoedd ar gyfer lansio galwad am dystiolaeth, a bydd hynna yn digwydd yn fuan iawn. Yn ein maniffesto ni, fe wnaethon ni sefydlu rhagdybiaeth o blaid claddu ceblau foltedd uchel neu ddefnyddio peilonau pren yn hytrach na dur. Byddaf yn gweithio efo'r Gweinidog Cabinet dros Fenter, Cysylltedd ac Ynni i sefydlu'r dull polisi i gyflawni'r ymrwymiad. Mae'n bwysig egluro na fydd pob cebl trydan newydd yn cael ei gydsynio gan Weinidogion Cymru nac yn unol â'n polisi ni gan fod rhoi cydsyniad ar gyfer ceblau trydan dros 132 kV yn cael ei gadw nôl i Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig. Dwi'n siŵr eich bod chi'n ymwybodol o'r ddwy haen yna sydd yn bodoli.  O dan adran 127 o Ddeddf Seilwaith (Cymru) 2024, fe all Gweinidogion Cymru gyhoeddi datganiad polisi ar ein dull gweithredu ar gyfer rhwydweithiau trawsyrru trydan, gan gynnwys gosod llinellau o dan ddaear, ac wedyn mae'n rhaid penderfynu ar bob cais yn unol â'r datganiad polisi yna. Felly, fel dwi’n dweud, dwi’n credu bod—. Efallai mai dyna mae o’n ei wneud, siŵr o fod, ar hyn o bryd—trafod y polisi newydd sydd angen ei gyflwyno. Bydd angen i'r polisi fynd trwy brosesau priodol cyn iddo gael ei ddynodi er mwyn sicrhau nad ydy'r testun yn creu problemau. Diolch.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much. In terms of the new national development framework, which is something that is within my portfolio, I do intend to publish a statement about engaging with the public on launching a call for evidence, and that will happen very soon. In our manifesto, we did establish an assumption in favour of undergrounding high-voltage cables or using wooden poles instead of steel. I will be working with the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy to establish a policy approach to achieve that commitment. It's important to explain that not every new electric cable will be consented by Welsh Ministers, or in accordance with our policy, given that consent for electric cables over 132 kV is reserved to the UK Government. I'm sure that you are aware of those two layers that exist. Under section 127 of the Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024, Welsh Ministers can publish a policy statement on our approach for electricity transmission networks, including undergrounding of cables, and then we have to decide on every application in accordance with that policy statement. So, as I said, I think that—. Maybe that's what's going on now. There are probably discussions ongoing on the policy that needs to be introduced. That will need to go through appropriate processes before it is designated to ensure that the text doesn't cause any problems. Thank you.

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30. 5. 90-second Statements cy

    Tua'r adeg yma yr wythnos nesaf, bydd nifer ohonom ni'n talu'r deyrnged olaf i Robin Evans, cerddor, cynhyrchydd a Chymro i'r carn. Yn wreiddiol o Eifionydd, fe setlodd Robin yng Nghaernarfon. Roedd yn perthyn i genhedlaeth oedd yn benderfynol o weld yr iaith Gymraeg yn tyfu'n iaith gyfoes a oedd yn perthyn i bob agwedd ar fywyd. Roedd y weledigaeth honno yn amlwg yn rhai o'r prif bethau y bydd Robin yn cael ei gofio amdanyn nhw: Mynediad am Ddim a Rownd a Rownd. Yn y cyfnod y sefydlwyd y band Mynediad am Ddim, roedd canu poblogaidd o'r math yma yn brin iawn, ac yn ddechrau ar oes aur mewn cerddoriaeth Gymraeg fodern. Yn yr un modd, roedd Rownd a Rownd yn gysyniad arloesol, yn rhaglen deledu fyddai'n cyflwyno'r iaith i bobl ifanc mewn cyd-destun anffurfiol a phoblogaidd. Hyd heddiw, mae'n parhau i fod yn rhaglen sy'n denu cynulleidfa ffyddlon. Roedd y cyfan yn rhan o weledigaeth Robin y byddai'r iaith Gymraeg yn parhau, cyn belled â bod diwylliant yn adlewyrchu bywyd ac iaith bob dydd.  Ond yr hyn fydd yn aros yn y cof, ochr yn ochr â'i lwyddiant a'i ddawn, oedd ei fod yn ŵr hynaws a gwylaidd. Dwi'n meddwl am Heulwen, Llio, Huw a gweddill y teulu yn y cyfnod trist yma, ac yn 'Cofio dy Wyneb', Robin.

    Official English translation

    Around this time next week, many of us will be paying a last tribute to Robin Evans, a musician, producer and a Welshman to his very core. Originally from Eifionydd, Robin settled in Caernarfon. He was part of a generation that was determined to see the Welsh language grow into a contemporary language that belonged to all aspects of life. That vision was clear in some of the main things that Robin will be remembered for: Mynediad am Ddim and Rownd a Rownd. During the period when the band Mynediad am Ddim was established, popular music of this kind was very rare, and was the start of a golden age in contemporary Welsh music. Likewise, Rownd a Rownd was an innovative concept, a television programme that would present the Welsh language to young people in an informal and popular context. To this day, it continues to be a programme that attracts a faithful audience. All of this was part of Robin's vision that the Welsh language should continue, as long as culture reflected the everyday lives and language of the people of Wales.  But what will remain with us, alongside his talent and success, is that he was a gentle man of humility. I think of Heulwen, Llio, Huw and the rest of the family at this sad time, and 'Cofio dy Wyneb'—remember your face—Robin.

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1. 3. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: Priorities for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Diolch, Lywydd, a braint i mi heddiw ydy nodi fy mlaenoriaethau ar gyfer y portffolio llywodraeth leol, tai a chynllunio. Mae cartref diogel a chynnes yn rhywbeth y dylai pawb yng Nghymru ei gael. Cartref ydy'r sylfaen ar gyfer ein hiechyd a'n lles, ein cysylltiad â'n cymunedau a'n gallu ni i ddysgu ac i weithio. Ond, er hynny, mae'r angen sylfaenol yma tu hwnt i gyrraedd miloedd o bobl ar hyd a lled Cymru. Yr hyn sydd wrth wraidd yr argyfwng tai yng Nghymru ydy prinder cartrefi. Mae hyn yn arwain at gynnydd mewn rhenti, yn golygu bod perchen cartref y tu hwnt i gyrraedd llawer gormod o bobl, ac yn gorfodi teuluoedd i fyw mewn cartrefi anaddas neu i adael eu cymunedau. Dwi'n benderfynol o gyflymu'r broses o gynyddu'r cyflenwad o cartrefi cymdeithasol dros dymor y Senedd yma, er mwyn taclo digartrefedd, er mwyn cadw pobl allan o lety dros dro anaddas, gwneud tai yn fwy fforddiadwy a rhoi mwy o ddewis i bobl lle maen nhw'n byw. Trwy weithio efo awdurdodau lleol a landlordiaid cymdeithasol, mi fyddwn ni'n cefnogi datblygu 20,000 o gartrefi cymdeithasol newydd erbyn 2030, gan sicrhau eu bod nhw o safon uchel ac yn effeithlon o ran ynni. Mi fyddaf i'n gweithio'n ddiflino efo'n landlordiaid cymdeithasol a'n partneriaid allweddol eraill i gyrraedd y targed yma. Mi fyddwn ni hefyd yn sefydlu Unnos, corff datblygu cenedlaethol newydd a fydd yn alluogwr ar gyfer cynyddu'r cyflenwad o dai cymdeithasol. Mi fydd Unnos yn gweithio mewn partneriaeth efo partneriaid allweddol i gyflymu'r cynnydd yn y cyflenwad tymor hir o gartrefi cymdeithasol newydd.

   Official English translation

   Thank you, Llywydd, and it's a privilege today for me to set out my priorities for the local government, housing and planning portfolio. A safe, warm home is something that everyone in Wales should have. Home is the foundation for our health and our well-being, our connection to our communities and our ability to learn and to work. Despite this, this most basic of needs is out of reach for thousands of people the length and breadth of Wales. At the very core of the housing crisis in Wales is a shortage of homes. This leads to rising rents, means that owning a home is unattainable for far too many people, and forces families to live in unsuitable homes or forces them to leave their communities. I'm determined to speed up the process of increasing the supply of social homes over this Senedd term, which will enable us to tackle homelessness, to keep people out of unsuitable temporary accommodation, to make housing more affordable and to give people greater choice over where they live. By working with local authorities and social landlords, we will support the development of 20,000 new social homes by 2030, ensuring that they are of high quality and are energy efficient. I will work relentlessly with our social landlords and our other key partners to deliver on this target. We will also establish Unnos, a new national development body that will be an enabler for the increase of social housing supply. Unnos will work in partnership with key partners to speed up the increase in the long-term supply of new social homes.

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2. 3. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: Priorities for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Ar hyn o bryd, mae un o bob chwech o aelwydydd yng Nghymru yn rhentu'n breifat. Mae'r sector rhentu preifat yn chwarae rhan bwysig yn y maes tai yng Nghymru, ac mae llawer o landlordiaid yn darparu llety a chymorth o ansawdd uchel. Ond mae gormod o bobl yn wynebu ansicrwydd o ran tai neu'n byw mewn cartref rhent o safon is. Felly, mi fyddwn ni'n gweithredu pecyn o fesurau i amddiffyn pobl sy'n rhentu, ac yn bwrw ymlaen hefyd efo mesurau i sicrhau bod rhenti teg yn cael eu gosod, fel bod pris rhentu cartref mor fforddiadwy â phosib. Rydyn ni'n wynebu argyfwng tai, a hynny o ganlyniad i sawl ffactor sy'n gorgyffwrdd: materion hanesyddol sydd wedi arwain at gyflenwad tai annigonol, prisiau tai'n codi a rhenti'n cynyddu. Mae hynny'n gadael pobl mewn tlodi neu mewn argyfwng. Fy mwriad ydy cyflwyno cynigion i ddeddfu ar gyfer yr hawl i dai digonol i bawb. Mi fydd y polisi tai yng Nghymru yn gwireddu'r hawl yma'n raddol, gan ganolbwyntio ar daclo digartrefedd, gwneud yn siŵr bod costau tai yn adlewyrchu incwm lleol yn well, cefnogi perchnogaeth gymunedol, hybu’r iaith a'r diwylliant Cymraeg, a helpu pobl ifanc i aros yn eu cymunedau. Mae gormod o bobl yng Nghymru yn byw mewn cartrefi o safon wael sy'n anodd eu gwresogi. Mae costau gwresogi a rhedeg cartref yn rhoi mwy a mwy o bwysau ar deuluoedd, ac mae chwarter aelwydydd Cymru bellach mewn tlodi tanwydd. Mae hyn yn effeithio ar iechyd a lles, ac yn rhwystro cyfleoedd bywyd. Dwi'n benderfynol o wneud popeth y gallaf i helpu aelwydydd a theuluoedd ym mhob cwr o Gymru. Mi fyddaf i'n gwneud yn siŵr bod mwy o waith yn cael ei wneud i leihau biliau ynni drwy hyrwyddo gwella effeithlonrwydd ynni a safon cartrefi. Mi fyddaf i'n diogelu'r cymorth i'r rheini sydd mewn tlodi tanwydd difrifol, ac mi fyddaf i hefyd yn edrych ar sut gallwn ni fynd ymhellach ac yn gyflymach i wella safonau byw, i daclo tlodi tanwydd, ac i leihau allyriadau carbon cartrefi. Ac, yn ein 100 diwrnod cyntaf, mi fyddwn ni'n adolygu'r rhaglen Cartrefi Cynnes i sicrhau ei bod hi'n darparu cymorth effeithiol.  Er mwyn taclo'r heriau o ran tai, mae angen inni wneud y defnydd gorau o'r stoc tai sydd gennym ni'n barod. Dwi'n ymwybodol iawn o sut mae lefelau uchel o ail gartrefi a llety gosod tymor byr yn gallu effeithio ar gymunedau, gan ei gwneud hi'n anoddach i bobl leol fforddio tai, a chyfrannu at ddirywiad cymunedau a’r iaith Gymraeg. Dwi'n benderfynol o ganolbwyntio o'r newydd ar y mater yma, gan weithio efo awdurdodau lleol i ddod o hyd i atebion. Cymunedau ffyniannus ydy anadl einioes ein cenedl, ac felly dwi yn bwriadu cyflwyno Bil hawl y gymuned i brynu. Mi fydd hyn yn ei gwneud hi'n haws i asedau cymunedol gwerthfawr, gan gynnwys adeiladau a thir ar gyfer tai, ddod yn eiddo i'r gymuned. Mi fyddaf i hefyd yn sefydlu tasglu canol trefi o fewn ein 100 diwrnod cyntaf. Bydd y tasglu yn edrych ar sut i ddatblygu eiddo preswyl yng nghanol trefi, er enghraifft, fel bod modd i fwy o bobl fyw yng nghanol ein trefi ni a’u galluogi nhw i ddatblygu yn ganolfannau bywiog. A, Lywydd, dwi'n falch o fod wedi chwarae rhan yn y gwaith o gyflwyno dau ddarn mawr o ddeddfwriaeth, sef Deddf Digartrefedd a Dyrannu Tai Cymdeithasol (Cymru) 2026 a Deddf Diogelwch Adeiladau (Cymru) 2026. Fe basiwyd y rhain drwy'r Senedd efo cefnogaeth unfrydol, drwy waith yr Aelod Cabinet blaenorol yr oeddwn yn falch iawn o gydweithio efo hi. Wrth inni nodi naw mlynedd ers trasiedi Tŵr Grenfell y penwythnos yma, dwi wedi ymrwymo i weithio efo partneriaid i groesawu'r cyfleon trawsnewidiol mae'r ddeddfwriaeth benodol ar ddiogelwch adeiladau yn eu cynnig. Mae'n hanfodol cael system gynllunio effeithiol. Mae angen rhoi lle canolog i'r gymuned, gan amddiffyn a chryfhau arweinyddiaeth leol. I wneud hyn, mi fyddwn ni'n cymryd camau pellach i ddiwygio a symleiddio'r fframwaith deddfwriaethol a pholisi ym maes cynllunio. Gyda chartref yn sylfaen ar gyfer lles a pherthyn, mae gwasanaethau cyhoeddus cryf ac effeithiol yn hanfodol i greu cymunedau bywiog wedi'u cysylltu'n dda. Felly, dwi am adnewyddu a chryfhau'r berthynas rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru ac awdurdodau lleol, gan sicrhau eu bod nhw'n bartneriaid llawn yn y gwaith o gynllunio a darparu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Fel cyn-gynghorydd a chyn-aelod cabinet mewn llywodraeth leol, dwi'n angerddol dros wasanaethau cyhoeddus, ac mae gen i brofiad uniongyrchol o'r ffordd mae awdurdodau lleol, cynghorwyr a staff yn gweithio'n ddiflino i sicrhau'r canlyniadau gorau i'r bobl a'r cymunedau maen nhw yn eu gwasanaethu. Dwi, fel fy nghydweithwyr yn y Cabinet, yn deall pwysigrwydd cael llywodraeth leol sefydlog a chynaliadwy i allu cyflawni ein blaenoriaethau ni i gyd. Mi wnawn ni wneud yn siŵr bod ein hawdurdodau lleol ni yn y sefyllfa gryfaf bosib i ddarparu'r gwasanaethau mae pob un ohonom ni'n dibynnu arnyn nhw. Yn ystod ein 100 diwrnod cyntaf, rydyn ni wedi ymrwymo i adnewyddu'r cytundeb partneriaeth strategol efo awdurdodau lleol, er mwyn sefydlu perthynas waith gadarnhaol efo awdurdodau lleol ar hyd a lled Cymru. Mae angen inni wneud yn siŵr bod y ffordd rydyn ni'n ariannu llywodraeth leol yn deg ar draws Cymru, fel y gallan nhw ymateb i'r heriau niferus sy'n eu hwynebu nhw. Felly, rydyn ni'n barod yn adolygu'r fformiwla ariannu ar gyfer llywodraeth leol i wneud yn siŵr ei bod hi’n adlewyrchu gwir gost darparu gwasanaethau mewn gwahanol rannau o Gymru. Mae angen inni leihau biwrocratiaeth a phrosesau, a chanolbwyntio ar gyflawni, gan wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n gweithio efo'n gilydd i wneud y defnydd gorau o gyllid, ac mae angen inni rymuso llywodraeth leol i ddefnyddio'r cyllid craidd yn well. Dwi eisiau gweithio efo llywodraeth leol i gefnogi a galluogi cynghorau i ddod o hyd i'w hatebion eu hunain a thrwy weithio efo’n gilydd ar gyfer bod yn gynaliadwy yn y tymor hir, a hynny drwy edrych sut y gellid gwneud pethau'n wahanol, gan weithio efo nhw a gwrando arnyn nhw i ddeall beth sy'n gweithio. Lywydd, dwi'n cloi. Dwi wedi dweud y gair 'penderfynol' lot o weithiau, dwi newydd sylwi, ond dwi yn benderfynol o droi uchelgais yn weithredu, gan ddarparu'r cartrefi mae pobl eu hangen, yn ogystal â'r gwasanaethau cyhoeddus gwydn mae cymunedau yn dibynnu arnyn nhw. Efo'n gilydd, mi wnawn ni greu Cymru decach lle mae gan bawb sicrwydd a chyfle, to uwch eu pennau, a chymunedau bywiog i fyw ynddynt. Diolch yn fawr.

   Official English translation

   At present, one in six households in Wales are privately renting. The private rented sector plays an important role in the housing landscape across Wales, with many landlords providing high-quality accommodation and support. But too many people face housing insecurity or live in poor-quality rental accommodation. We will therefore implement a package of measures to protect renters, and we will also progress measures to ensure fair rents are set, so that the price of renting a home is as affordable as possible. We are facing a housing crisis, which is the result of several overlapping issues: historic matters that have led to an inadequate housing supply, rising house prices and increasing rents. This has left people in poverty or in crisis. My intention is to bring forward proposals to legislate for the right to adequate housing for all. Housing policy in Wales will realise this right progressively, focusing on addressing homelessness, ensuring housing costs better reflect local incomes, supporting community ownership, promoting the Welsh language and culture, and helping young people to remain in their communities. Too many people in Wales live in homes that are of poor quality and are difficult to heat. The costs of heating and running a home are putting more and more pressure on families, and a quarter of households in Wales now live in fuel poverty. This impacts health and well-being and hinders life chances. I am determined to do everything I can to help households and families across Wales. I will ensure that more work is done to reduce energy bills by promoting improvements in energy efficiency and the quality of homes. I'll protect the support for those experiencing acute fuel poverty, and I will also explore ways to go further and faster to improve living standards, to tackle fuel poverty, and to reduce household carbon emissions. And, in our first 100 days, we will review the Warm Homes programme to ensure that it delivers effective support. To tackle our housing challenges, we need to make the best use of the housing stock we already have. I am all too aware of how high concentrations of second homes and short-term lets can impact communities, making it more difficult for local people to afford housing, and contributing to community and Welsh language decline. I'm determined to bring renewed focus to this issue, working with local authorities to seek solutions. Thriving communities are the lifeblood of our nation, therefore I intend to bring forward a community right to buy Bill. This will make it easier for valued community assets, including buildings and land for housing, to be brought into community ownership. I will also be establishing a town centre taskforce within our first 100 days. The taskforce will look at how to develop residential properties in our town centres, for example, so that more people are able to live in our town centres, enabling them to develop into flourishing centres. And, Llywydd, I'm proud to have played a role in introducing two significant pieces of legislation, namely the Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Act 2026 and the Building Safety (Wales) Act 2026. These were passed by the Senedd with unanimous support, through the work of the previous Cabinet Member, who I was very pleased to collaborate with. As we mark the ninth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower tragedy this weekend, I am committed to working with partners to embrace the transformative opportunities that this specific legislation on building safety offers. It's essential that we have an effective planning system, giving a community-centred approach that protects and strengthens local leadership. To do this, we will take further steps to reform and simplify the planning legislative and policy framework. With homes being the foundation of well-being and belonging, strong and effective public services are essential to create vibrant, well-connected communities. Therefore, I want to renew and strengthen the relationship between the Welsh Government and local authorities, ensuring that they are full partners in the work of designing and delivering public services. As a former councillor and a former local government cabinet member, I am passionate about public services, and I have first-hand experience of how local authorities, councillors and council staff work tirelessly to deliver the best outcomes for the people and communities they serve. I understand, as do my Cabinet colleagues, the importance of stable and sustainable local government to ensure the delivery of all of our priorities. We will ensure that our local authorities are in the strongest position possible to provide the services on which all of us depend. In our first 100 days, we have committed to renewing the strategic partnership agreement with local authorities, to establish positive working relationships with local authorities the length and breadth of Wales. We must make sure the way we fund local government is fair across Wales, so that they can respond to the numerous challenges that they face. Therefore, we're already reviewing the local government funding formula to ensure that it reflects the real cost of delivering services in different parts of Wales. We need to reduce bureaucracy and processes, and focus on delivery, making sure that we work together to make the best use of funding, and we need to empower local government to use its core funding better. I want to work with local government to support and enable councils to find their own solutions and by working together towards long-term sustainability, and that's by looking at how things can be done differently, working with them and listening to them to understand what works. Llywydd, I will conclude. I've used the word 'determined' several times, I've just noticed, but I am determined to turn ambition into action, to deliver the homes that people need, along with the resilient public services that communities rely on. Together, we will build a fairer Wales where everyone has security and opportunity, a roof above their heads, and vibrant communities to live in. Thank you very much.

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3. 3. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: Priorities for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi am y cwestiynau yna, neu o leiaf y sylwadau yna. Rwy'n mawr obeithio ein bod ni'n mynd i fedru ffeindio rhywfaint o dir cyffredin. Yn sicr, dwi'n cytuno efo chi fod yna argyfwng tai, ac rydych chi wedi rhestru rhai ystadegau yn fanna ynglŷn ag adeiladu tai yn gyffredinol. Mae'r argyfwng, i mi, yn cael ei ddangos yn glir iawn yn niferoedd y bobl sydd mewn llety dros dro oherwydd eu bod nhw'n wynebu digartrefedd oni bai eu bod nhw mewn llety dros dro. Wrth i ni siarad heddiw, mae plant ar eu ffordd adref o'r ysgol i dreulio nosweithiau mewn llety gwely a brecwast, mewn ystafell fach lle does yna ddim cyfleusterau ar gyfer gwneud bwyd, lle does yna ddim lle i wneud gwaith cartref. Dyna hyd a lled yr argyfwng rydyn ni'n ei wynebu.  Ers diwedd mis Mawrth 2026, mae yna 10,509 o unigolion yn byw mewn llety dros dro, ac mae 2,267 o'r rheini yn blant, yn blant dibynnol o dan 16 oed. Fedrwn ni fel cenedl, fedrwn ni fel gwlad ddim bod yn goddef y math yna o sefyllfa, a dyna pam mae'r ffocws clir gen i ynglŷn â chynyddu'r cyflenwad o dai cymdeithasol er mwyn gallu symud pobl ymlaen o'r math o sefyllfaoedd yma fyddai neb yn dymuno i unrhyw un fod ynddynt.  Felly, dyna pam mae'r pwyslais penodol ar gynyddu'r cyflenwad o dai cymdeithasol, ac i wneud hynna mae'n rhaid i ni fod yn gyrru'r agenda ymlaen, a dyna pam dwi'n meddwl ei bod hi'n bwysig ein bod ni'n sefydlu corff hyd braich Unnos, er mwyn rhoi'r cyfle yna i ni weithio yn y tymor hir ac er mwyn i ni fod yn edrych ar y cyllido sy’n angenrheidiol ar gyfer cynyddu'r cyflenwad, ac er mwyn i ni fod yn rhoi ffocws clir iawn ar gael gwared â rhai o’r materion rydych chi wedi sôn amdanyn nhw yn y maes cynllunio, ac yn y blaen, sydd yn dal pethau yn ôl. Dyna ydy ein datrysiad ni. Dyna rydyn ni'n gweld ydy'r ffordd ymlaen. Dwi ddim yn clywed llawer o ddatrysiadau yn dod gennych chi. Rydych chi'n disgrifio'r sefyllfa. Os oes gennych chi bethau penodol i'w trafod fel datrysiadau, dwi’n hapus iawn i fod yn trafod y rheini. Rydych chi wedi sôn am nifer o bethau eraill; dwi’n siŵr y byddan nhw’n codi mewn datganiadau gan bobl eraill, a gwnaf ymateb iddyn nhw bryd hynny.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much for those questions, or at least those comments. I very much hope that we will be able to find some common ground. I certainly agree with you that there is a housing crisis, and you have listed some statistics there in relation to house building more generally. The crisis, for me, is clearly highlighted in the numbers of people who are in temporary accommodation because they would be facing homelessness if they were not in that temporary accommodation. As we speak today, there are children on their way home from school to spend their evenings in bed-and-breakfast accommodation, in a small room where there are no facilities for cooking, where there is no room to do their homework. That is the reality of the crisis that we are facing. Since the end of March 2026, there are 10,509 individuals living in temporary accommodation, and 2,267 of those are children, dependent children under the age of 16. We as a nation, we as a country can't put up with that kind of situation, and that's why I have a clear focus on increasing the supply of social housing so that we can move people on from those kinds of situations that no one would want to see anyone experiencing. That is why there is a specific emphasis on increasing the supply of social housing, and in order to do that we have to drive the agenda forward, and that's why I do think it's important that we establish an arm's-length body, namely Unnos, in order to provide that opportunity for us to work in the long term and for us to look at the necessary funding in order to increase supply, and for us to provide a very clear focus on dealing with some of the issues that you've outlined in planning and so on, which are holding things back at the moment. That's our solution. That's how we see things progressing. I don't see too many solutions coming from you. You described the situation. If you have specifics that you would want to discuss as solutions, then I'd be more than happy to have those discussions with you. You've mentioned a number of other issues; I'm sure that they will be raised in statements by others and I will respond to them at that time.

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4. 3. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: Priorities for Local Government, Housing and Planning en

   Diolch yn fawr iawn, Jayne. Thanks for those. I counted 11 topics there, which is fantastic. I'll try and cover all of them and answer some of the questions already raised earlier on. You started with the funding formula for local government. Absolutely, we are looking at how the funding formula may need to be reformed. Yes, we are continuing with the work that started in the previous administration, but I'm looking in the round now at whether or not we need to be expanding that to look at the principles underpinning the funding formula.  You asked about local government finance. We as Plaid Cymru were delighted to have secured a sum of, I think, at the end, £112.8 million extra for local government in this financial year. That has enabled local government to keep the rises in council tax to around 4 per cent in most cases. On the delivery towards the target of 20,000, I am really pleased that the last Government, working in partnership with the RSLs and with the local authorities, really did manage to push that target forward. You didn't quite make it, but I understand that, by the end of this year, we will have reached 20,000. That is a great place for us to be starting. We are more ambitious in trying to have a target that is for four years rather than five, but there is a pipeline of projects coming through, and I do say 'thank you' for pushing that on during the last Senedd. On Unnos, I am convinced that we need to have an arm's-length body to accelerate the speed at which we are delivering. We need long-term looking at solutions and long-term planning. Actually, most people in the sector now—in the housing sector and in the housing support sector—recognise that we need to be setting up an arm's-length body so that we can push things forward much quicker than they have been. On town centres, you mentioned Transforming Towns. The projects that have already been agreed, obviously, are in that, and we'll be looking through the taskforce, which I will be convening, but there are implications for other Cabinet Ministers as well, in particular around reform of small business rates—. We will be getting the taskforce together, and I will be making an announcement on that within the 100 days. On the affordable homes taskforce, which Lee Waters did really useful work on for us, we will be looking at those recommendations as part of our drive to speed up the delivery of social homes. On the Warm Homes programme, I've actually got a meeting tomorrow with the UK Government Minister—Martin McCluskey, I think it is—to discuss the Warm Homes programme that's already been announced in England by Ed Miliband. We haven't had much detail around that, so I'm really anxious to understand what exactly the Westminster Government are intending to do and what we can, hopefully, have coming towards Wales out of that as well. I'm probably running out of time now, aren't I, to answer the rest of them. Other people will probably ask the same questions. Diolch.

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5. 3. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: Priorities for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi, a diolch am y cydweithio y buodd pan oeddem ni'n aelodau o'r un pwyllgor yn ystod y Senedd ddiwethaf. Mi wnaf ddechrau o'r diwedd, efallai. Felly, mae creu llywodraeth leol sydd yn wydn ac sydd yn gallu bod yn gynaliadwy yn holl, holl bwysig, onid ydy, oherwydd llywodraeth leol sydd yn delifro gymaint o'r gwasanaethau sydd yn agos at ein pobl ni ac at y bobl fwyaf bregus o fewn ein cymunedau ni. Ac felly mae hi yn bwysig ein bod ni yn gweithio efo'n gilydd.  Rŵan, dwi ddim yn mynd i fod yn Weinidog sydd yn trio gorfodi unrhyw beth ar lywodraeth leol. Mae o'n gorfod bod yn bartneriaeth. Ac felly dyna pam dwi'n awyddus iawn i adnewyddu'r bartneriaeth, y cytundeb, sydd wedi dechrau datblygu rhwng llywodraeth leol â'r Llywodraeth yn fan hyn. Ac a dweud y gwir, mae gen i gyfarfod yn fuan iawn efo arweinydd presennol y WLGA, ac efo'r arweinwyr cyngor ar draws Cymru, i drafod yn union y mater yma.  O ran y fformiwla llywodraeth leol, ydyn, mi rydyn ni'n edrych arno fo o ddifri. Ond, wrth gwrs, fel dŷch chi'n ddweud, mi fydd yna rai yn colli ac mi fydd na rai yn ennill allan o unrhyw fath o newidiadau o fewn y pot cyfyng—llawer rhy gyfyng—o arian sydd gan lywodraeth leol ar hyn o bryd. Ond, dwi'n meddwl, os ydyn ni'n gallu gwneud yr achos, efo tystiolaeth glir o annhegwch, wel, dyna fo—mi fydd yna, dwi'n siŵr wedyn, awydd i symud tuag at y newid hwn.  Dŷch chi'n sôn yn olaf—. Mi wnaf i sôn eto am yr 20,000 o gartrefi, ac roeddech chi'n gofyn sut dŷn ni'n mynd i fod yn siŵr ein bod ni'n mynd i gyflawni. Wel, dŷn ni yn dechrau o le gwell, fel dwi'n dweud, diolch i waith y Llywodraeth flaenorol. Mae yna gartrefi sydd yn y pipeline ar hyn o bryd, ac mae yna gynlluniau ar gyfer datblygu mwy. Ond mae'n rhaid i ni ffeindio dulliau cyllido sydd yn rhai arloesol, ac mae yna fodelau allan yna y byddwn ni'n edrych arnyn nhw. A bydd Unnos yn rhoi y cerbyd yna inni fod yn edrych o ddifri ar y rhwystrau tymor hir, ar y cynllunio tymor hir, ac ar yr angen hefyd i'r cyllid fod yn rhywbeth sydd yn dymor hir er mwyn cyflawni'r nod.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much, and thank you for the co-operation that we had when we were members of the same committee during the previous Senedd. I will start at the end, perhaps. So, creating a local government that is resilient and sustainable is crucially important, isn't it, because local government delivers so many of the services that are close to our populations and to the most vulnerable people in our communities. And so it is important that we work together.  Now, I'm not going to be a Minister who tries to compel or force anything on local government. It has to be a partnership. And so that's why I'm very eager to renew the partnership agreement that has started to develop between local government and the Government in this place. And indeed, I have a meeting very soon with the current leader of the Welsh Local Government Association, and with council leaders across Wales, to discuss exactly this issue. In terms of the local government formula, yes, we are looking at it in earnest. But, of course, as you say, some will lose out and some will gain out of any changes within that far too limited a pot that local government currently has. But, I think, if we can make the case, with clear evidence of unfairness, well, there you go—there will, I'm sure then, be a desire to move towards change in this regard.  Now, you mentioned finally—. I will mention once again the 20,000 homes, and you asked how we're going to be sure that we're going to deliver this. Well, we are starting from a better position, as I said, thanks to the work of the previous Government. There are homes that are currently in the pipeline, and there are plans for developing more of them. But we do have to find funding methods that are innovative, and there are models out there that we will be looking at. And Unnos will provide that vehicle for us to be looking seriously at the long-term barriers and long-term planning issues, and the need for the funding to be allocated on a long-term basis to deliver on that.

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6. 3. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: Priorities for Local Government, Housing and Planning en

   Thank you for those questions, Safa. I'm committed to good-quality social homes, and to protecting the lowest income households with an effective support scheme, including crisis support for people without heating and hot water. But—I talked there about social homes—we need to be raising our ambition across tenures. We have, in our manifesto, made the renewal of Welsh housing stock a national mission, including a commitment in the first 100 days to review the Warm Homes programme and introduce changes to go further and faster on home energy efficiency, to deliver the outcomes we want to see, which are higher living standards, lower fuel poverty and reduced carbon emissions. In the meantime, of course, there is support available through the Nest scheme—Nyth—for low-income tenants living in energy-inefficient privately rented accommodation. And as I said, I will be meeting the UK Government Minister for Energy Consumers tomorrow, with the Warm Homes plan being the main area for discussion. So, I want to raise the funding gap left by the closure of the energy company obligation, and then to understand exactly what their thinking is around the Warm Homes programme. Diolch.

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7. 3. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: Priorities for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Diolch yn fawr iawn, Jane. Fel dŷch chi'n gwybod, mae'r Senedd wedi pasio deddfwriaeth sydd yn ddeddfwriaeth arbennig o addas, dwi'n credu, ar gyfer taclo digartrefedd, gan gynnwys digartrefedd ym maes plant. Mi ydw i ar hyn o bryd yn creu'r cynllun gweithredu i gyd-fynd efo'r ddeddfwriaeth yna, ac mae'r pwyslais, wrth gwrs, ar atal y problemau lawer iawn cyn iddyn nhw fynd yn broblemau, lle mae pobl yn diweddu yn byw mewn llety hollol, hollol anaddas. Felly, mae'r rhan yna yn hollbwysig, tra hefyd yn gweithio efo'r mudiadau hynod werthfawr yna yn y sector yma sydd yn cefnogi teuluoedd cyn iddyn nhw fynd yn ddigartref, ond, yn sicr, er mwyn eu cael nhw allan o ddigartrefedd, ac er mwyn sicrhau nad ydyn nhw'n ailymweld â digartrefedd. Mae hynny'n elfen bwysig ofnadwy, ac mae plant yn ganolog i hynny. Dydw i ddim yn meddwl bod yna neb yn yr ystafell yma a fyddai eisiau inni beidio â bod yn gwneud ein gorau glas i wneud yn siŵr nad oes yna unrhyw blant yn byw mewn amodau hollol, hollol annerbyniol.

   Official English translation

   Thank you very much, Jane. As you know, the Senedd has passed legislation that is particularly appropriate legislation, I believe, for tackling homelessness, including homelessness amongst children. I am currently creating the action plan to align with that legislation, and, of course, there is that emphasis, of course, on preventing the problems far sooner than them turning into problems, where people end up living in totally inappropriate and unsuitable accommodation. So, that part is crucial, whilst also working with those hugely valuable organisations in the sector that support families before they enter homelessness, but, certainly, helping them out of homelessness, and to ensure that they don't become homeless again. That's a particularly important element, and children are at the heart of that work. I don't think anyone in this room would want us not to be doing our level best to ensure that no children live in totally unacceptable circumstances.

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8. 3. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: Priorities for Local Government, Housing and Planning en

   Diolch, James. You're quite right to point to the fact that this is in my portfolio, in terms of developments of national significance. I will always look at the evidence, I will listen to advice and I will listen to concerns, but you will understand that we have a policy framework at the moment. We may be considering actively changing some of that policy framework, working with other Ministers. So, absolutely—. But I will absolutely read reports and listen to what communities are saying, but it all has to fit in within the legal framework, obviously.

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9. 3. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: Priorities for Local Government, Housing and Planning en

   I disagree with your point there. I do think that co-operative housing is an integral part of the solutions to the housing crisis. The portfolio is quite big, and I couldn't cover every single bit of it within my statement today, so you'll forgive me, but absolutely I'll make that commitment to you, Mike. It is co-operative housing, community-led housing and the work that Cwmpas is doing in a lot of our communities, including in rural areas—. There's meaningful work happening. Of course, the commitment to bring in a Bill on the community right to buy can also help co-operatives and community ownership to move along quicker to access assets, buildings, that they want to turn into community-led homes.

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10. 3. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: Priorities for Local Government, Housing and Planning en

    Diolch yn fawr iawn. And, yes, you're quite right, rents in Wales are rising faster than anywhere else in the UK, and we're up nearly 9 per cent, as you said. So, making rents fairer is one of my key priorities. I'm committed to delivering stronger rights and protections in the private rented sector, so tenants are better protected from unfair practices and have greater security, stability and confidence in their homes. So, I do intend to bring forward legislation in this Senedd term to improve housing affordability. I'm actively looking at different measures for fair rents that have been operating in other countries, such as Scotland. They have tried various models, and it's really interesting that we have somewhere that we can go and have a look at what they've done and lessons to be learnt out of that. I'm also considering opportunities to strengthen the enforcement framework, introducing financial penalties along criminal sanctions so that poor landlord behaviour can be addressed at an early stage, ensuring that fines levied can be retained by local authorities to bolster their enforcement approaches, et cetera. There are lots of different protections that we can be bringing in. I don't want to see our renters be disadvantaged as compared to what is happening—and I'm glad it's happening—over the border, but we need to really focus now and make sure that we also have proper protections and fair rents in Wales. Diolch.

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