Questions to the Environment and Social Justice Ministers

Climate Change Bill-question to Jane Davidson

Bethan Jenkins: The Climate Change Bill currently has a target of a 60 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. Environmental groups now say that the Bill must have a target of a minimum reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 80 per cent by 2050, in order to be on track with the targets. What discussions have you had with your colleagues in Westminster about changing the target to 80 per cent?

Jane Davidson: The target of 60 per cent reflected the advice of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution in its 2000 report, ‘Energy—The Changing Climate’. The consultation revealed support for a tougher target but there is limited detailed evidence to support an alternative figure. However, there is an aspiration to support an alternative figure, and the Prime Minister and the Minister responsible for climate change have made it clear that the Committee on Climate Change will be asked to conduct a review of the 60 per cent target and consider whether it should be strengthened further. If it recommends that, the Government will listen. I warmly welcome that as, I am sure, will you.

Bethan Jenkins: Mae gan y Mesur Newid yn yr Hinsawdd darged i leihau gollyngiadau carbon deuocsid 60 y cant. Dywed grwpiau amgylcheddol yn awr ei bod yn rhaid i'r Mesur gael targed i leihau gollyngiadau carbon deuocsid 80 y cant o leiaf erbyn 2050, er mwyn bod ar y trywydd cywir gyda'r targedau. Pa drafodaethau yr ydych wedi'u cael gyda’ch cydweithwyr yn San Steffan ynghylch newid y targed i 80 y cant?

Jane Davidson: Yr oedd y targed 60 y cant yn adlewyrchu cyngor y Comisiwn Brenhinol ar Lygredd Amgylcheddol yn ei adroddiad yn 2000, ‘Energy—The Changing Climate’. Datgelodd yr ymgynghoriad gefnogaeth i darged anoddach, ond ychydig o dystiolaeth fanwl a geir i gefnogi ffigur arall. Fodd bynnag, ceir dyhead i gefnogi ffigur arall, ac mae'r Prif Weinidog a'r Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol am newid yn yr hinsawdd wedi datgan yn glir y gofynnir i'r Pwyllgor ar Newid yn yr Hinsawdd gynnal adolygiad o’r targed 60 y cant, ac ystyried a ddylid ei gryfhau eto fyth. Os bydd yn argymell hynny, gwrendi’r Llywodraeth. Croesawaf hynny’n frwd, fel y gwnewch chithau yr wyf yn siŵr.

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Child Poverty
Q11 Bethan Jenkins: Will the Minister make a statement on child poverty in Wales? OAQ(3)0086(SJL)

Brian Gibbons: We have made good progress on tackling child poverty in Wales. Poverty rates for children here are now below the Great Britain average. Recent statistics show that 28 per cent of children in Wales live in households with incomes below 60 per cent of the median, the rate for Great Britain being 29 per cent.

Bethan Jenkins: The Minister may be aware of Monmouthshire County Council’s decision to charge children for the use of social services in their area. Does the Minister agree that the wheels are falling off the Cameron cart, and that we should consider relooking at this? [Interruption.] They are following their Thatcherite agenda, as usual.

The Presiding Officer: Order. I need no help from the official opposition. The Minister will be well aware that, although he has responsibility for local government, he is not responsible for the decisions of individual local authorities.

Brian Gibbons: I am aware that these are merely proposals at this stage, and I hope that, on reflection, the local authority will bear in mind the points that Bethan has made. If we are ever to abolish child poverty in Wales, we need to be proactive in addressing the problems of the most vulnerable children in our society. That will not be achieved by charging children—quite the contrary; the outcome would be to move in the wrong direction and drive further children into poverty and disadvantage.


Tlodi Plant

C11 Bethan Jenkins: A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am dlodi plant yng Nghymru? OAQ(3)0086(SJL)

Brian Gibbons: Gwnaethom gynnydd da ar fynd i’r afael â thlodi plant yng Nghymru. Mae cyfraddau tlodi ar gyfer plant sydd yma’n is na chyfartaledd Prydain Fawr erbyn hyn. Mae ystadegau diweddar yn dangos bod 28 y cant o blant yng Nghymru’n byw ar aelwydydd ag incymau sy’n llai na 60 y cant o’r canolrif, a’r gyfradd ar gyfer Prydain Fawr yw 29 y cant.

Bethan Jenkins: Efallai fod y Gweinidog yn ymwybodol o benderfyniad Cyngor Sir Fynwy i godi tâl ar blant am ddefnyddio gwasanaethau cymdeithasol yn eu hardal. A yw’r Gweinidog yn cytuno bod yr olwynion yn disgyn oddi ar gart Cameron, ac y dylem ystyried ailedrych ar hyn? [Torri ar draws.] Maent yn dilyn eu hagenda Thatcheraidd, yn ôl eu harfer.

Y Llywydd: Trefn. Nid oes arnaf angen unrhyw gymorth gan yr wrthblaid swyddogol. Bydd y Gweinidog yn ymwybodol iawn, er bod ganddo gyfrifoldeb dros lywodraeth leol, nad yw’n gyfrifol am benderfyniadau gan awdurdodau lleol penodol.

Brian Gibbons: Yr wyf yn ymwybodol mai cynigion yn unig yw’r rhain ar hyn o bryd, ac yr wyf yn gobeithio y bydd yr awdurdod lleol, ar ôl ystyried, yn cofio’r pwyntiau a wnaeth Bethan. Os ydym i ddileu tlodi plant yng Nghymru byth, mae angen inni ymdrin yn rhagweithiol â phroblemau’r plant fwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cymdeithas. Ni chyflawnir hynny drwy godi tâl ar blant—i’r gwrthwyneb yn llwyr; y canlyniad fyddai symud i’r cyfeiriad anghywir a gyrru rhagor o blant i dlodi a’u rhoi dan anfantais.