Rhys ab Owen

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Every one of 37 lines we hold for Rhys ab Owen, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account.

This is not an official version of UK Parliament proceedings. It reproduces the published record and links to it; the official version is the one UK Parliament publishes.

1. “Will the Minister encourage Creative Wales and the Development Bank of Wales to follow the example of successful funding models across the world, so that Wales can reach its creative potential? Diolch yn fawr.”

   Senedd Cymru27 November 2024Contains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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2. “Diolch, Weinidog. You'll remember last week Mike Hedges telling us about the incredible contribution of video-gaming to the Welsh economy. Now, I looked into this after that, and I saw that, following the loss of EU funding, longer term projects, such as video games, end up being funded only in part now, meaning there are far more potential moments of failure. The majority of video game companies in Wales fail now within the first five years of trading. The Federation of Small Businesses recently recommended that the Welsh Government explore the use of Government loan guarantees, following the example of places such as South Korea, a country that has been very successful in exporting film, tv and music, in their language, worldwide. The creative industries there represent more than 10 per cent of the total venture capital raised.”

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3. “8. How will the Welsh Government utilise the Development Bank of Wales to encourage growth and investment in creative industries, particularly those who operate on longer project timelines? OQ61934”

   Original: “8. Sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn defnyddio Banc Datblygu Cymru i annog twf a buddsoddiad mewn diwydiannau creadigol, yn enwedig y rhai sy'n gweithredu yn ôl amserlenni hirach ar gyfer eu prosiectau? OQ61934”

   Senedd Cymru27 November 2024Official translation from WelshContains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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4. “Cost gwariant iechyd yng ngharchardai cyhoeddus Cymru yw £7.1 miliwn, ond £2.5 miliwn yw'r grant bloc, ac mae hwn wedi aros yr un peth ers 2004, heb gymryd i ystyriaeth chwyddiant na'r cynnydd ym mhoblogaeth ein carchardai ni. Mae'n hollbwysig o ran adferiad a lleihau risg bod pobl yn cael y mynediad cywir at y feddygaeth a'r driniaeth y maen nhw eu hangen. Roeddwn i'n gweld hwnna pan oeddwn i'n fargyfreithiwr troseddol—roeddwn i'n gweld nad oedd cleientiaid yn cael y cyffuriau a'r gefnogaeth roedden nhw eu hangen. Mae'r mater yma, o ran y diffyg yn y grant bloc, wedi cael ei godi droeon gan Dr Rob Jones a hyd yn oed y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol yma. A ydy'r Trefnydd wedi siarad â Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig am gynyddu'r grant bloc? Oherwydd nid yw'r gap sydd gyda ni ar hyn o bryd yn gynaliadwy o gwbl. Diolch yn fawr.”

   Senedd Cymru20 November 2024Welsh verbatim · official translation covers the whole contributionContains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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5. “Thank you to Luke Fletcher for this important question. It's so easy for us to forget about prisoners. Trefnydd, I don't quite agree with your analysis that the early release programme has led to this problem. Perhaps it's brought the problem to the fore, but it's an old problem. The lack of support in prison, and then after release from prison, is a problem that goes back decades, and, indeed, is a problem that the previous Labour Government were involved with. There was a huge increase in the prison population under the Tony Blair and Gordon Brown administrations. One key way of ensuring that people don't reoffend is that they get the right support in prison, that they get the mental health and the physical health support within the prison. The cost of health expenditure in public prisons in Wales is £7.1 million, but the block grant is £2.5 million, and this has remained static since 2004, without taking into account inflation or the increase in the prison population. It is crucial in terms of rehabilitation and reducing risk that people have the right access to the treatment and medicines that they need. I saw that when I was a criminal barrister—I saw that clients weren't getting the medicines and support that they needed. This issue, in terms of the shortage in the block grant, has been raised a number of times by Dr Rob Jones and even by the Health and Social Care Committee here. So, has the Trefnydd spoken to the UK Government about increasing the block grant? Because the gap we have at the moment is simply not sustainable. Thank you.”

   Original: “Diolch i Luke Fletcher am y cwestiwn pwysig yma. Mae hi mor rhwydd inni anghofio am garcharorion. Trefnydd, dwi ddim cweit yn cytuno â'ch dadansoddiad chi mai'r cynllun rhyddhau cynnar sydd wedi creu'r broblem yma. Efallai ei fod e wedi dod â'r broblem i'r amlwg, ond mae hon yn hen broblem. Mae'r diffyg cefnogaeth yn y carchar, ac ar ôl cael eich rhyddhau o'r carchar, yn broblem sy'n mynd nôl ddegawdau, ac, yn wir, yn broblem roedd y Llywodraeth Lafur ddiwethaf yn rhan ohoni. Cafwyd cynnydd enfawr o fewn y boblogaeth yn y carchardai dan Lywodraeth Tony Blair a Gordon Brown. Un ffordd allweddol i sicrhau nad yw pobl yn aildroseddu yw eu bod nhw'n cael y gefnogaeth gywir yn y carchar, eu bod nhw'n cael y gefnogaeth iechyd meddwl a iechyd corfforol yn y carchar.”

   Senedd Cymru20 November 2024Official translation from Welsh of the full contributionContains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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6. “He and his family returned to Ukraine at the end of last year. And recently, I met two women from the Ukraine who visited the homeless lunch in the city centre here in Cardiff. They had to leave the homes they'd been living in and were fearful for the future. They didn't have anywhere to go. Unfortunately, I've heard of other similar examples. Now, these women loved Wales. They were grateful for the support they'd received. They sang Calon Lân for us present. But I was ashamed that they didn't have a home here in Wales. So, therefore, what continuing support, Cabinet Secretary, is the Welsh Government offering Ukrainian refugees here in Wales? Diolch yn fawr.”

   Senedd Cymru19 November 2024Contains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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7. “As a Senedd, we should pay tribute, as many have already done, to the work of Mick and Alun Davies, for spending several recesses collecting and taking humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Only last week, here in the Siambr, Alun Davies mentioned hearing air-raid sirens in Ukraine. In 2024, it's tragic that the sound of air-raid sirens are heard once again on mainland Europe, or anywhere else. And let us, as Adam has said, let us not be complacent that that cannot happen again here in Wales. I cannot help—. When I heard Alun mention the air-raid siren, I could not help but think of 11-year-old Alexi and his family. Alexi is a very talented pianist, who received free weekly piano lessons at the Tabernacl here in Cardiff, with some of Wales’s best musicians. He was incredible. I went to one of his concerts.”

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8. “With Holodomor still being denied in some quarters, the diaries she found and protected and published at Eryl, the family home in Barry, are crucial and reliable evidence that the famine happened and that the famine killed millions. It's worth remembering that it was the famine denier, Walter Duranty, that he was the one who won the Pulitzer prize for his articles on the Soviet Union in the 1930s—not Gareth Jones, but the famine denier. Siriol Colley dedicated decades of her retirement ensuring that her uncle, but, more importantly, Holodomor, will not be forgotten again in Wales and the west. As Mick Antoniw has mentioned, today marks 1,000 days since the escalation of the war in Ukraine, yet it is nearly 4,000 days since the invasion of Crimea.”

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9. “It is right that we again, as a Senedd, mark the contribution of Gareth Jones, a remarkable individual who did so much before his death on the eve of his thirtieth birthday. He was, in fact, part of a group of intellectual linguists, part of Lloyd George's inner circle. Another one was Morgan Watkin, the uncle of Rhodri Morgan—remarkable people who have largely been forgotten. But Gareth Jones paid the heaviest price for his pursuit of truth, and it's worth reflecting today that 55 journalists were killed at work in 2022, with that increasing to 120 in 2023. Reporters Without Borders say that the state of press freedom is very serious in an unprecedented 31 countries. Things are not getting better. We've mentioned Gareth Jones. Can I also mention his niece, Dr Siriol Colley?”

   Senedd Cymru19 November 2024Contains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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10. “In fact, 71 per cent of freelancers in the creative industries feel largely unsupported, in a survey last year. Now, I don't want you to risk the wrath of the Cabinet Secretary for finance, but what are you going to do to change this and to support the 71 per cent who feel largely unsupported at the moment? Diolch yn fawr.”

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11. “Mike Hedges is correct in saying the transformational role the creative industries have played in Wales. I'm thinking of Cardiff in particular, where 11 per cent of Cardiff's gross domestic product comes from the creative industries that transformed Cardiff, after the decline in heavy industries in the docks, into the bustling capital city it is now. And this has been the case in Wales across the centuries. In the eleventh century, Gerallt Gymro mentioned the unique harmony singing of the Welsh, and I'm sure, Minister, you'll be singing later on, with many others of us, in the Cardiff City Stadium, 'gwlad beirdd a chantorion' , Evan James's words. But, despite your positive—and it was a very positive—statement, and there is much to celebrate, if you speak to people in the industry, they are feeling depressed, they are feeling let down.”

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12. “So, will the Welsh Government look into collaboration with others to maybe have one easily accessible place where we can find information about elections in Wales? Diolch yn fawr.”

    Senedd Cymru19 November 2024Contains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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13. “I remember in the last Senedd election, my heart sank when I went to vote and I heard a visually impaired man telling the polling clerk, 'Help me please to vote for that nice man, Mark Drakeford'—probably a sensible man. But in all seriousness, he shouldn't have had to do that, he should have been able to vote in secret. I shouldn't have been able to hear how he voted. I read the democratic health task and finish group report. It's clear a lot of work needs to be done with community councils, and people aren't aware of the work community councils are doing. Yesterday, I and my office started Googling as if we had very little political knowledge, and to try and find basic information is very difficult. For example, you try and find when are the next local elections in Wales being held. It's not easy to find on search engines.”

    Senedd Cymru19 November 2024Contains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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14. “Unlike Darren Millar, I wholeheartedly welcome the automatic registration, but I do agree with Darren Millar that it won't in itself mean we have a higher proportion of people voting. But at least we'll know, at least we'll have some honesty on how small the turnout is in some areas, because I'm sure all of us have canvassed in certain areas and have passed house after house after house that aren't on the electoral register. So, at least we'll know, then, with automatic registration. I'm glad, also, to read about the RNIB and your support towards them. I think Darren did ask for a timetable. I'm not sure if you answered that. But it is an issue.”

    Senedd Cymru19 November 2024Contains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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15. “I know it's a reserved matter, but, please, I know a declaration of support from the Welsh Government, a statement of support from the Welsh Government, would go very far with these campaigners. Diolch yn fawr.”

    Senedd Cymru19 November 2024Contains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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16. “I received a reply from the Minister for higher education a few weeks ago and she mentioned there's a review into this, but it'll take two years. Well, I cannot see why it needs to take two years. We're probably not talking about a huge number of individuals here, but it would make a huge difference for them. And then, on the second statement, from you, hopefully, Trefnydd, I've written twice to the Ministry of Justice and to others also with regard to the board and lodging deductions from compensation awarded to victims of miscarriages of justice. It's incredible that many people from south Wales, very often members of ethnic minorities, were deducted thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of pounds from their compensation when they were wrongly convicted, for board and lodging for staying in prison.”

    Senedd Cymru19 November 2024Contains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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17. “Diolch, Trefnydd. May I ask for two statements, please, one from the Minister for higher education and one from you, hopefully? I wrote to the Minister for higher education in September with regard to the plight of Hong Kongers who came over here in 2021 as part of the British national visa due to the crackdown on democracy protesters in Hong Kong. They've made Wales their home. They have no intention of leaving here, but they are not eligible for home fee status and not eligible either for student loans. So, how can we call ourselves a nation of sanctuary? How can we claim that we welcome these individuals to our country when we are, in effect, blocking them from continuing with their higher education? They are looking at fees of up to £50,000. Scotland has changed the eligibility rules.”

    Senedd Cymru19 November 2024Contains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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18. “Due to the high risk of flooding in Cardiff, will the Welsh Government expedite the future flooding framework, to help build flood resilience in the capital city? Diolch yn fawr.”

    Senedd Cymru13 November 2024Contains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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19. “Diolch, Dirprwy Brif Weinidog. Some in this Chamber will remember the big floods in the early 1980s. I have only seen photos of them, when Cathedral Rd and many parts of Pontcanna and Canton were under water. But, Cardiff is still under threat from flooding. Rainfall just this year left many streets left many streets under water, and a couple had to be rescued from their car—in the capital city. Because Cardiff is fighting flooding on three fronts: we're the fourth most at-risk city from rising sea levels; we have three rivers flowing through Cardiff; and they then flow into the Severn estuary, the second highest tidal estuary in the whole world. In total, flooding is estimated to cost £200 million in damage every year, without the personal impact on individuals.”

    Senedd Cymru13 November 2024Contains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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20. “Dyw'r rhain ddim yn ffigurau bach, chwaith, o ran nifer y plant—1.6 y cant o blant o gartrefi lle nad ydy'r Gymraeg neu'r Saesneg yn iaith gyntaf sy'n derbyn addysg Gymraeg. Rwy'n siŵr ein bod ni'n deall beth yw'r rheswm—mae'r rhieni eisiau i'w plant siarad Saesneg, ond mae hynny'n bosib trwy addysg Gymraeg. Rŷn ni'n gwybod hynny. Felly, a wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ymrwymo i wneud ymgyrch penodol i ddenu plant o leiafrifoedd ethnig i addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg? Diolch yn fawr.”

    Senedd Cymru13 November 2024Welsh verbatim · official translation covers the whole contributionContains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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21. “Thank you very much, Cabinet Secretary. When I attended a Welsh-medium primary school in Cardiff in the 1990s, there was just one child from an ethnic minority in a year of 70 children, and there was just one Muslim family at the school of over 400 children. Now, things have improved, but there is a lot of work to do still, and we certainly can't attract children from families where Welsh and English are not the first language—that's obvious when you visit schools in Riverside and Canton. Now, I've asked a similar question to you recently, but I have the figures now, and the figures across Wales show that just 2.5 per cent of children from families where Welsh and English are not the first language receive Welsh education. If you take Gwynedd out, the figure falls to 1.6 per cent. They're shocking figures, and they're not small figures in terms of the numbers of children—1.6 per cent of children from families where English and Welsh are not the first language receive Welsh education. I'm sure we understand the reason, that parents want their children to speak English, but that is possible through Welsh education. We know that. So, will the Cabinet Secretary make a commitment to undertake a specific campaign to attract minority ethnic children to Welsh education?”

    Original: “Diolch yn fawr, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet. Pan oeddwn i'n mynychu ysgol gynradd Gymraeg yng Nghaerdydd yn y 1990au, un plentyn o leiafrif ethnig oedd yn y flwyddyn o 70 o blant, ac un teulu Mwslemaidd mewn ysgol o dros 400 o blant. Nawr, mae pethau wedi gwella, ond mae lot mawr i'w wneud o hyd, ac rŷn ni'n sicr yn methu denu plant o gartrefi lle nad y Gymraeg a'r Saesneg yw'r iaith gyntaf—mae hynny'n amlwg pan ŷch chi'n mynd i ymweld ag ysgolion yng Nglan yr Afon a Threganna. Nawr, dwi wedi gofyn cwestiwn tebyg i chi yn ddiweddar, ond mae'r ffigurau gyda fi nawr, a'r ffigurau ar draws Cymru—2.5 y cant o blant o gartrefi lle nad ydy'r Gymraeg neu'r Saesneg yn iaith gyntaf sy'n cael addysg Gymraeg. Tynnwch mas Gwynedd ac mae'n syrthio lawr canran arall i 1.6 y cant.”

    Senedd Cymru13 November 2024Official translation from Welsh of the full contributionContains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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22. “8. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with the Cabinet Secretary for Education and with local authorities about promoting the Welsh language among people from ethnic minority people? OQ61830”

    Original: “8. Pa drafodaethau mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi ei gael gyda'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dros Addysg a gyda awdurdodau lleol ynglŷn a hybu y Gymraeg ymysg pobl o leiafrifoedd ethnig? OQ61830”

    Senedd Cymru13 November 2024Official translation from WelshContains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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23. “A’r hyn dwi’n ei ddeall, a'r hyn dwi wedi'i glywed, yw bod yr arweinydd yna’n gwneud gwaith arbennig o dda, ond dyw’r ddarpariaeth ar hyn o bryd ddim yn hafal, a fedrwn ni ddim dweud bod yr iaith Gymraeg yn iaith i bawb pan fo hyn yn dal yn digwydd—fedrwn ni ddim sicrhau nad oes cyfle i bethau ddigwydd fel digwyddodd i’m cefnder i, nad ydyn nhw'n gallu derbyn yr addysg a’r gefnogaeth yn eu mamiaith. Diolch yn fawr.”

    Senedd Cymru12 November 2024Welsh verbatim · official translation covers the whole contributionContains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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24. “Ond mae llawer iawn o’r WESPs a gyflwynwyd wedi methu cynnal adolygiadau cynhwysfawr o’u harferion fel rhan o greu y WESPs, ac fel rhan o greu WESPs ar gyfer y dyfodol. Mae hyn yn golygu nad yw cynghorau lleol, nad yw awdurdodau lleol yn dysgu o’u camgymeriadau, a dŷn nhw ddim, wedi hynny, yn adeiladu darlun cliriach o’r hyn sydd ei angen ar gyfer dysgwyr cyfrwng Cymraeg. Roeddwn i’n falch i weld y cydweithio rhwng Comisiynydd Plant Cymru a Chomisiynydd y Gymraeg, a’u bod nhw’n dod i’r casgliad bod angen tasglu cenedlaethol i gydlynu’r ymgyrch i wella’r ddarpariaeth ynglŷn ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol. Dwi’n gwybod bod hynny heb gael ei gytuno gyda’r Llywodraeth, ond eich bod chi wedi apwyntio arweinydd anghenion dysgu ychwanegol cyfrwng Cymraeg.”

    Senedd Cymru12 November 2024Welsh verbatim · official translation covers the whole contributionContains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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25. “Mae hynny’n golygu bod rhieni a dysgwyr yn aml yn cael eu gorfodi i geisio cefnogaeth ac addysg cyfrwng Saesneg o hyd, ac, fel dŷch chi’n gwybod, mae hwn yn mynd yn groes i erthygl 30 o Gonfensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau'r Plentyn, sy’n golygu bod gan blentyn yr hawl i ddefnyddio iaith o’i ddewis, a hefyd yn mynd yn erbyn deddfwriaeth y lle hwn, sy’n dweud y dylem ni drin y Gymraeg a’r Saesneg yn gyfartal. Dyw hyn ddim yn digwydd ar hyn o bryd pan fydd hi'n dod i’r ddarpariaeth anghenion dysgu ychwanegol. Trwy’r cynlluniau strategol Cymraeg mewn addysg, y WESPs, mae disgwyl i gynghorau lleol ddatgan a yw anghenion dysgwyr sy’n siarad Cymraeg yn cael eu diwallu ar hyn o bryd.”

    Senedd Cymru12 November 2024Welsh verbatim · official translation covers the whole contributionContains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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26. “Dros nos wedi hynny, fe newidiwyd iaith yr aelwyd, fe newidiwyd iaith ei frawd a’i chwaer e, ac mae’r teulu yna wedi cael ei golli ar hyn o bryd i’r Gymraeg. Diolch byth, rŷn ni wedi symud ymlaen lot ers y 1960au, ond mae adroddiad y comisiynydd yn dangos yn bwerus iawn fod bwlch clir yn bodoli o hyd rhwng y ddarpariaeth cyfrwng Saesneg a’r ddarpariaeth cyfrwng Cymraeg o ran anghenion dysgu ychwanegol, ac mae’r mater yma wedi cael ei godi gan bob un o’r 22 o awdurdodau lleol Cymru.”

    Senedd Cymru12 November 2024Welsh verbatim · official translation covers the whole contributionContains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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27. “I also echo my thanks to the Welsh Language Commissioner for her report and her important contribution in relation to the Welsh language. Cabinet Secretary, I would like to discuss a specific issue today, namely Welsh language services provided for children with learning needs. According to a recent study, the number of children with a diagnosis of autism and special needs in Wales has increased threefold since 2001. This means that around 20 per cent of pupils in Wales now have additional learning needs. Now, I remember—and I’ve mentioned this before in the Senedd—a great aunt of mine in Llanelli telling me that she’d been advised by the local authority back in the 1960s not to send her son to Ysgol Gymraeg Dewi Sant because he had additional learning needs—he wouldn't be able to cope with two languages. Overnight, the language of the household changed, the language of his brother and sister changed, and that family is lost to the Welsh language currently. Thank goodness, we have made a great deal of progress since the 1960s, but the commissioner’s report demonstrates powerfully that there is still a clear gap between English-medium provision and Welsh-medium provision in terms of additional learning needs, and this issue has been raised by all 22 local authorities in Wales. This means that parents and learners are still often forced to seek English-medium support and education, and as you know, this runs counter to article 30 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that a child has the right to use their language of choice, and is also contrary to the legislation in this place, which says that we should treat Welsh and English equally. This is not happening at the moment when it comes to additional learning needs provision. Through the Welsh in education strategic plans, the WESPs, local authorities are expected to state whether the needs of Welsh-speaking learners are being met at present. But many of the WESPs that have been introduced have failed to carry out comprehensive reviews of their practices as part of creating those WESPs, and creating WESPs for the future. This means that local councils, local authorities aren’t learning from their mistakes, and they then don’t build a clearer picture of what Welsh-medium learners need. I was pleased to see the collaboration between the Children’s Commissioner for Wales and the Welsh Language Commissioner, and that they concluded that a national taskforce was required to co-ordinate the campaign to improve the provision in relation to additional learning needs. I know that that hasn’t been agreed with Government, but that you have appointed a Welsh-medium additional learning needs lead. And from what I understand, and from what I’ve heard, that lead is doing excellent work, but the current provision is not equal, and we cannot say that the Welsh language is a language for everyone when this is still happening—we cannot ensure that there's no chance for things to happen as happened to my cousin, so that they can't access the education and support that they need in their first language. Thank you.”

    Original: “Dwi hefyd yn ategu fy niolch i Gomisiynydd y Gymraeg am ei hadroddiad, am ei chyfraniad pwysig hefyd dros y Gymraeg. Hoffwn i, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, drafod rhywbeth penodol iawn yn yr adroddiad heddiw, sef y gwasanaethau Cymraeg i blant ag anghenion dysgu. Yn ôl astudiaeth ddiweddar, mae nifer y plant sydd â diagnosis o autism a phlant ag anghenion arbennig yng Nghymru wedi cynyddu dair gwaith ers 2001. Mae hyn yn golygu bod tua 20 y cant o ddisgyblion yng Nghymru nawr bellach ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol. Nawr, dwi’n cofio—a dwi wedi sôn am hyn o’r blaen yn y Senedd—hen fodryb i fi yn Llanelli yn dweud wrthyf i ei bod hi wedi cael ei chynghori gan yr awdurdod lleol yn ôl yn y 1960au i beidio ag anfon ei mab i Ysgol Gymraeg Dewi Sant oherwydd bod anghenion dysgu ychwanegol gyda fe—byddai e'n methu ymdopi gyda dwy iaith.”

    Senedd Cymru12 November 2024Official translation from Welsh of the full contributionContains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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28. “I was named after my grandfather's brother, Dafydd Rhys Thomas from Treorchy, who died in the first battle of the Somme aged just 25. Their older brother, the Rev Degwel Thomas from Neath, participated in recruitment meetings. In a speech on the Gnoll during half time of a rugby match between Swansea and Neath in 1915, he was delighted that 368 boys from his chapel had joined the armed forces. Within a year, his brother had died. He did not have the opportunity to marry his fiancé, and he did not have the opportunity to experience again the companionship of the household, as he said in his letters home from the trenches. And also, by the end of the war, 20 members of Degwel Thomas's chapel in Neath had died.”

    Original: “Fe ges i fy enwi ar ôl brawd fy nhad-cu, Dafydd Rhys Thomas o Dreorci, a buodd farw ym mrwydr gyntaf y Somme, dim ond yn 25 mlwydd oed. Roedd ei frawd hŷn, y Parchedig Degwel Thomas o Gastell-nedd, yn cymryd rhan mewn cyfarfodydd recriwtio. Mewn araith ar y Gnoll yn ystod hanner amser gêm rygbi rhwng Castell-nedd ac Abertawe yn 1915, fe ymhyfrydodd bod 368 o fechgyn ei gapel wedi ymuno â’r lluoedd arfog. O fewn blwyddyn, roedd ei frawd wedi marw. Ni chafodd gyfle i briodi ei ddyweddi, ac ni chafodd gyfle i brofi unwaith eto gwmnïaeth yr aelwyd yn Nhreorci, fel roedd e'n dweud yn ei lythyron adref o'r ffosydd. Hefyd, erbyn diwedd y rhyfel, roedd 20 o aelodau capel Degwel Thomas yng Nghastell-nedd wedi marw.”

    Senedd Cymru12 November 2024Official translation from WelshContains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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29. “And I was staggered to read a survey from 2020, which said that 61.5 per cent of learners had expressed stereotypes over skin colour, religion and nationality. What will the Welsh Government do with regard to doing more research to quantify the scale of this issue in Wales? Diolch yn fawr.”

    Senedd Cymru12 November 2024Contains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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30. “My four-year-old went to nursery today wearing odd socks. And when she saw me putting on what she described as 'boring black socks', she decided she would pick some new socks for me. So, that's why I'm wearing brightly coloured socks and wearing Christmassy socks too—I'm not showing you, Cefin; don't look—one with a snowman and the other with Father Christmases. But thank you for your important statement, because bullying can impact people for decades to come, after school. As you've indicated in your statement, bullying is a problem that can affect all learners in Wales, but it's an issue that doesn't affect learners equally. In Cardiff, around a third of learners come from ethnically diverse backgrounds.”

    Senedd Cymru12 November 2024Contains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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31. “Diolch yn fawr, Cwnsler Cyffredinol. I am concerned, about this important Bill going through Westminster as part of a private Member's Bill, that the impact on Welsh devolution and on the health and social care system here in Wales will not be fully considered and fully reflected. For example, the Bill gives the Secretary of State the power by regulation to specify the medicines, the form, the manner and the conditions under which these assisted dying drugs are prescribed. If this Bill passes, it will radically impact on devolved areas. What discussions, therefore, is the Counsel General having to ensure that the Bill fully respects the devolution settlement here in Wales, and fully engages with Welsh stakeholders? Diolch yn fawr.”

    Senedd Cymru5 November 2024Contains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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32. “8. What advice has the Counsel General provided to the Welsh Government regarding the impact on devolved services if the UK Parliament legislates to allow assisted dying? OQ61796”

    Original: “8. Pa gyngor y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'i roi i Lywodraeth Cymru ynglŷn â'r effaith ar wasanaethau datganoledig os yw Senedd y DU yn deddfu i ganiatáu cymorth i farw? OQ61796”

    Senedd Cymru5 November 2024Official translation from WelshContains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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33. “Rŷch chi'n dweud ein bod ni'n mynd i glywed cyn hir pryd mae'r ddeddfwriaeth yn mynd i gael ei gosod o flaen y Senedd. Wel, pryd bydd yr argymhellion yma yn cael eu gwireddu? Diolch.”

    Senedd Cymru5 November 2024Welsh verbatim · official translation covers the whole contributionContains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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34. “Thank you very much, Counsel General. If the Welsh Government is serious about the devolution of justice, then we have to run the things that we have already well. That hasn't been true in terms of the Welsh tribunals. We read in one annual report after another about the problems in terms of the Welsh tribunals—payment of members, sites and locations, and the lack of training, for example. Through Welsh tribunals, we have an opportunity to develop a justice system that is different in Wales—one that is fair and is accessible to all. A special report from the Law Commission has been published since 2021, but, in truth, the results were known before then, in 2020. So, enough time has passed for us to know what that special report does say. You say that we're going to hear before long when the legislation will be laid before the Senedd. Well, when will those recommendations be implemented? Thank you.”

    Original: “Diolch yn fawr, Cwnsler Cyffredinol. Os yw Llywodraeth Cymru o ddifrif ynglŷn â datganoli cyfiawnder, yna mae'n rhaid inni redeg yr hyn sydd gennym yn barod yn dda. Dyw hynny ddim wedi bod yn wir ynglŷn â thribiwnlysoedd Cymru. Rŷn ni'n darllen yn un adroddiad blynyddol ar ôl y llall yr un problemau ynglŷn â thribiwnlysoedd Cymru—tâl aelodau, er enghraifft, lleoliadau, diffyg hyfforddiant. Trwy dribiwnlysoedd Cymru, mae gennym ni'r cyfle i ddatblygu system gyfiawnder gwahanol yng Nghymru—un sy'n deg ac yn hygyrch i bawb. Mae adroddiad arbennig Comisiwn y Gyfraith wedi cael ei gyhoeddi ers 2021, ond, mewn gwirionedd, roedd y canlyniadau'n hysbys cyn hynny, yn 2020. Felly, mae digon o amser wedi bod gyda ni i wybod beth mae'r adroddiad arbennig yna yn ei ddweud.”

    Senedd Cymru5 November 2024Official translation from Welsh of the full contributionContains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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35. “They feel let down by all London-based parties, but they feel especially betrayed by the Labour Party, a party founded to support working people and a party they voted for and supported for decades. The writing of letters clearly isn't working. Can you give them hope today, Prif Weinidog, that their injustice will finally come to an end? Diolch yn fawr.”

    Senedd Cymru5 November 2024Contains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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36. “Diolch yn fawr, Prif Weinidog. Since your appointment as Prif Weinidog, you have often given us lessons on the devolution settlement. This includes encouraging us to write to Westminster regarding reserved matters. Well, following a very constructive meeting with ASW campaigners, Jack Sargeant wrote to the UK pensions Minister on 19 September. At the end of last month, he was yet to receive a reply. I wrote to Keir Starmer regarding this matter in March 2023, and then the shadow pensions Minister in November 2023. I have yet to receive a reply. ASW campaigners, some of which are in the public gallery today, have written several letters to Westminster politicians without a reply.”

    Senedd Cymru5 November 2024Contains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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37. “7. Will the First Minister provide an update on what discussions the Welsh Government is having with the UK Government regarding the Allied Steel and Wire pensions injustice? OQ61794”

    Original: “7. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi diweddariad ar ba drafodaethau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cael gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch anghyfiawnder pensiynau Allied Steel and Wire? OQ61794”

    Senedd Cymru5 November 2024Official translation from WelshContains information from the Record of Proceedings of Senedd Cymru, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0Source ↗

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