Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, is urging Welsh Government to expand free childcare for one and two year olds.
This week the First Minister, Mark Drakeford refused to introduce an expansion of the scheme when questioned in the Senedd.
Mr Rowlands, Shadow Minister for Local Government said:
I was very disappointed to hear in the Chamber that there were no plans to commit to giving Welsh parents the same level of free childcare as in other parts of the UK.
It is absolutely amazing that in this day and age when we need to encourage more people to go back to work to boost the economy the Welsh Labour Government is not prepared to support this.
Once again I really feel people in North Wales are being badly let down and parents who cannot afford childcare are being left with no alternative but to stay at home.
During First Minister’s Questions, the Leader of the Opposition, Andrew RT Davies MS, asked the First Minister three times if he would introduce the expansion of free childcare to one and two year olds. The First Minister refused to introduce a scheme.
Commenting on his exchange with the First Minister, Welsh Conservative Leader Andrew RT Davies MS , said:
I questioned the First Minister on behalf of all parents in Wales asking why the Labour Government has yet to commit to giving Welsh parents the same level of free childcare as parents in other parts of the UK.
The First Minister repeatedly refused to answer my direct question, not just once, but three times.
The Chancellor’s childcare commitment took a major step in getting people back into the workforce, Wales can’t be left behind.
Sam Rowlands AS yn galw am fwy o ofal plant am ddim i helpu rhieni i ddychwelyd i'r gwaith
Mae Sam Rowlands, Aelod o’r Senedd dros Ogledd Cymru, yn annog Llywodraeth Cymru i ehangu gofal plant am ddim i blant un a dwy oed.
Yr wythnos hon fe wnaeth y Prif Weinidog, Mark Drakeford wrthod ehangu'r cynllun pan gafodd ei holi yn y Senedd.
Meddai Mr Rowlands, Gweinidog Llywodraeth Leol yr Wrthblaid:
Siom o’r mwyaf oedd clywed yn y Siambr nad oedd cynlluniau i ymrwymo i roi'r un lefel o ofal plant am ddim i rieni Cymru ag mewn rhannau eraill o'r DU.
Mae'n gwbl ryfeddol yn yr oes sydd ohoni pan mae angen i ni annog mwy o bobl i ddychwelyd i'r gwaith er mwyn hybu'r economi nad yw Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru yn barod i gefnogi hyn.
Unwaith eto dwi wir yn teimlo bod pobl yn y Gogledd yn cael eu siomi’n fawr, a bod rhieni sy’n methu fforddio gofal plant yn cael eu gadael heb unrhyw ddewis ond aros gartref.
Yn ystod Cwestiynau’r Prif Weinidog, gofynnodd Arweinydd yr Wrthblaid, Andrew RT Davies AS, i'r Prif Weinidog dair gwaith a fyddai'n ehangu gofal plant am ddim i blant un a dwy oed. Gwrthododd y Prif Weinidog gyflwyno’r cynllun.
Wrth sôn am ei ddadl gyda’r Prif Weinidog, dywedodd Arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Andrew RT Davies AS:
Holais y Prif Weinidog ar ran holl rieni Cymru gan ofyn pam nad yw'r Llywodraeth Lafur eto wedi ymrwymo i roi'r un lefel o ofal plant am ddim i rieni Cymru â rhieni mewn rhannau eraill o'r DU.
Gwrthododd y Prif Weinidog dro ar ôl tro i ateb fy nghwestiwn uniongyrchol, nid dim ond unwaith, ond deirgwaith.
Mae ymrwymiad gofal plant y Canghellor wedi gwneud cyfraniad mawr at gael pobl yn ôl i'r gweithlu, ac ni ddylai Cymru gael ei gadael ar ôl.
