Yn ogystal ag anghytuno â pholisi Llywodraeth Glymbleidiol y DU ynghylch y Bwrdd Cyflogau Amaethyddol, rwyf hefyd yn siomedig iawn ynghylch y ffordd y mae’n mynd ati i roi’r polisi ar waith, heb fawr o ystyriaeth i fuddiannau Cymru.  Pan gefais fy mhenodi i’m swydd y llynedd, gofynnodd Llywodraeth y DU imi am fy nghaniatâd i ddiddymu’r Bwrdd o dan y Ddeddf Cyrff Cyhoeddus.  Dywedais ar y pryd y carwn weld gwaith y Bwrdd yng Nghymru yn cael ei gadw.  Y ffordd hawsaf un i ganiatáu hynny fyddai i Lywodraeth y DU wneud gorchymyn o dan y Ddeddf Cyrff Cyhoeddus i ddiddymu’r Bwrdd yn Lloegr a rhoi’r hawl i Gymru wneud trefniadau gwahanol.  Gyda golwg ar hynny, cyflwynais gais i DEFRA am gael trosglwyddo swyddogaethau’r AWB i Weinidogion Cymru trwy gyfrwng y gorchymyn i ddiddymu’r Bwrdd o dan y Ddeddf Cyrff Cyhoeddus.  Rwyf wedi cael nifer o gyfarfodydd ers hynny â Gweinidogion y DU – cafwyd y diweddaraf prin wythnos yn ôl yn wir – i bwyso arnynt i ddilyn y trywydd hwn a fyddai’n caniatáu i’r ddwy lywodraeth ddilyn eu polisïau eu hunain.  Mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi gwrthod y cais rhesymol ac ymarferol hwn.  Ac yn awr, mae DEFRA wedi ailadrodd ei bwriad i ddiddymu’r Bwrdd heb ystyried anghenion y gymuned amaethyddol yng Nghymru.  Mae DEFRA wedi dewis lansio ymgynghoriad ar y mater hwn ledled Cymru a Lloegr, a hynny heb ofyn barn Llywodraeth Cymru ar y mater. Yn wir, gwnaeth DEFRA ddewis peidio ag anfon copïau o’r dogfennau ymgynghori at fy swyddogion tan ddydd Gwener, 12 Hydref, ychydig ddyddiau yn unig cyn cyhoeddi’r ymgynghoriad.
I not only disagree with the UK coalition Government’s policy on the AWB but am also frankly very disappointed by the manner in which they are pursuing their policy agenda with scant regard for the interests of Wales.  When I came into office last year I was asked by the UK Government for my consent to the abolition of the Board under the provisions of the Public Bodies Act.  I expressed at that time my wish to retain the functions of the Agricultural Wages Board in Wales.  By far the simplest way to ensure that this could happen would be for the UK Government to make provision under a Public Bodies Act order to both abolish the Board in relation to England and to enable different arrangements to be made for Wales.  With that in mind, I made a request to DEFRA for the functions of the AWB to be transferred to Welsh Ministers by the proposed order to abolish the Board under the Public Bodies Act. I have had numerous additional meetings with UK Ministers, most recently only a week ago, to press for this approach which would enable both Governments to continue to take forward their own policies.  The UK Government has continued to turn down this reasonable and practical request.  DEFRA has now re-iterated its intention to continue with abolition without regard to the needs of the agricultural community in Wales.  DEFRA has chosen to launch a consultation on this issue across England and Wales.  Far from consulting fully with the Welsh Government on this approach, DEFRA instead chose to copy their consultation documents to my officials late on Friday 12th October, only days before the consultation was announced.