Rydym yn cydnabod ers tro nad oes cyngor cyfreithiol o ansawdd da ar gael i lawer o geiswyr lloches. Yn aml, dyma’r rheswm pam y mae llawer o geisiadau am loches yn cael eu gwrthod yn y lle cyntaf, a gall danseilio gallu’r unigolion hynny i apelio’n llwyddiannus er gwaethaf y sail ddilys sydd i’w cais. Rydym wedi cyllido Asylum Justice ers 2017, fel rhan o Raglen Hawliau Lloches, i ddarparu cyngor cyfreithiol i’r rheini nad oes Cymorth Cyfreithiol ar gael iddynt, gan gynnwys llawer y gwrthodwyd lloches iddynt. Fodd bynnag, y llynedd rhoesom £25000 yn ychwanegol i Asylum Justice, ynghyd â £50000 yn 2020/21 er mwyn mynd i’r afael â’r bylchau sylweddol o ran cyngor cyfreithiol. Efallai y bydd y cyngor a roddir yn cefnogi cais newydd am loches, yn helpu i sefydlu tystiolaeth feddygol neu’n hwyluso mynediad at ddogfennau angenrheidiol. Mae sawl cyfreithiwr Cymorth Cyfreithiol yng Nghymru wedi cau dros y misoedd diwethaf, ac mae hynny wedi ei gwneud yn anoddach byth i fewnfudwyr gael gafael ar gyngor cyfreithiol amserol o ansawdd. Rydym am fynd ati’n fuan i gomisiynu gwaith ymchwil pellach i edrych ar y bylchau o ran cyngor cyfreithiol i fewnfudwyr ledled Cymru.
We have long recognised that many asylum seekers do not have access to good quality legal advice. This is often the cause of many refused initial claims for asylum and can undermine the ability of refused asylum seekers to appeal successfully despite valid grounds. We have funded Asylum Justice since 2017, as part of the Asylum Rights Programme, to provide legal advice to those who cannot access Legal Aid, including many refused asylum seekers. However, last year we provided an additional £25000 to Asylum Justice, coupled with a further £50000 in 2020/21 to address the substantial gaps in legal advice. Advice may support a fresh asylum claim, the establishment of medical evidence or facilitate access to necessary documentation, amongst other advice. Closures of several Legal Aid solicitors in Wales in recent months has exacerbated the lack of access to timely quality immigration legal advice. We will soon commission further research to look at gaps in immigration legal advice across Wales.