Sam Rowlands MS for North Wales has called on the Welsh Government to do more to eradicate the North and South divide in Wales.
Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Rowlands, Shadow Minister for Local Government, asked Business Minister, Lesley Griffiths, how she would work with the Minister for Economy to ensure North Wales benefits from equal economic outcomes to the rest of the country.
He said:
It is really important that North Wales does receive its fair share compared to other parts of Wales. We do continue to see a divide between North and South, which is sad to see. An example of that is Gross Value Added. For example, Ynys Môn has around half of the GVA per head of down here in Cardiff.
We see a health board that unfortunately continues to lag behind, especially in really important areas such as A&E waiting times. We see under investment, in my view, in transport. For example, the North Wales metro, which is earmarked for £50 million, versus South Wales, which has £750 million earmarked.
The Minister said she had regular meetings with the Minister for Economy to discuss economic opportunities within the North Wales growth deal. However, she did not accept there was a divide.
Mr Rowlands added:
There is a clear division between North and South Wales, and people in my region are fully aware of where the Welsh Government want to spend their money. The Welsh Government need to take urgent action to eradicate this divide here in Wales.
Sam Rowlands AS yn beirniadu'r rhaniad Gogledd-De
Mae Sam Rowlands, yr Aelod o’r Senedd dros Ogledd Cymru, wedi galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i wneud mwy i ddileu'r rhaniad rhwng y Gogledd a'r De.
Wrth siarad yn y Senedd, gofynnodd Mr Rowlands, Gweinidog yr Wrthblaid dros Lywodraeth Leol, i'r Trefnydd, Lesley Griffiths, sut y byddai'n gweithio gyda Gweinidog yr Economi i sicrhau bod y Gogledd yn elwa ar ganlyniadau economaidd cyfartal i weddill y wlad.
Meddai:
Mae'n hollbwysig bod y Gogledd yn derbyn ei chyfran deg o'i gymharu â rhannau eraill o Gymru. Rydyn ni'n parhau i weld rhaniad rhwng y Gogledd a'r De, sy'n beth trist. Un enghraifft o hynny yw Gwerth Ychwanegol Gros (GVA). Er enghraifft, mae gan Ynys Môn tua hanner GVA y pen o gymharu â lawr yma yng Nghaerdydd.
Mae'r bwrdd iechyd yn dal ar ei hôl hi yn anffodus, yn enwedig mewn meysydd pwysig iawn fel amseroedd aros adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys. Gwelwn danfuddsoddi, yn fy marn i, ym maes trafnidiaeth. Er enghraifft, mae £50 miliwn wedi'i glustnodi ar gyfer Metro Gogledd Cymru, o gymharu â'r £750 miliwn ar gyfer Metro’r De.
Dywedodd y Gweinidog ei bod wedi cael cyfarfodydd rheolaidd gyda Gweinidog yr Economi i drafod cyfleoedd economaidd o fewn bargen dwf y Gogledd. Fodd bynnag, nid oedd yn derbyn bod rhaniad.
Ychwanegodd Mr Rowlands:
Mae rhaniad clir rhwng y Gogledd a'r De, ac mae pobl yn fy rhanbarth yn gwbl ymwybodol yn lle mae Llywodraeth Cymru am wario eu harian. Mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru gymryd camau brys i ddileu'r rhaniad hwn yn ein gwlad.