2. How is the Welsh Government's landfill disposals tax community scheme benefiting communities in south-east Wales? OAQ53444

Thank you. Twenty-seven of the 71 applications received under the landfill disposals tax community scheme were successful in the first funding window, administered by the Wales Council for Voluntary Action. Eight of these projects will be delivered within south-east Wales, investing £257,490 in projects that enhance the environment, biodiversity, and minimising waste.

Thank you. I welcome the news announced last month that a total of 27 projects across Wales will receive grant awards in the first round of funding, raised by the Welsh Government's landfill disposals tax community scheme. Minister, this highly innovative scheme was established by the Welsh Government to support local community and environmental projects in areas affected by disposals to landfill, and funded by the new Welsh landfill disposals tax, which replaced UK landfill tax in April 2018. So, Minister, are you able to state how many applications for funding were received from projects in Islwyn during the first two rounds of funding? And can you indicate further what actions the Welsh Government are taking to ensure that Islwyn benefits from this rewarding scheme?

Thank you. I mentioned in my original answer that the WCVA hold the contract and the responsibility for the management and distribution of fundings. There were a number of applications received from the surrounding area, but only one application was received from within your own constituency of Islwyn in round 1. Unfortunately, that was unsuccessful. One application from Islwyn has also been submitted in round 2, and that's currently being taken through the assessment process. I am continuing to encourage the WCVA, as the delivery organisation, to provide eligible applicants equal opportunities to apply to the scheme. I think—the early discussions I've had with the WCVA—there has been a very high level of demand for the scheme, and they've confirmed that the applications are of a very high standard.

You've started something now, Minister. I don't know whether you've got any figures in that file relating to my constituency as well—probably other Assembly Members will ask the same. If you don't have any figures, either now or later, if you could contact me regarding the uptake of the scheme in my area, that would be much appreciated. In terms of the community scheme and the benefits overall, it's clearly a good idea to have this, and the Welsh Government's gone down the right route following the devolution of landfill disposals tax. Could you tell us what you're doing to raise awareness of the scheme across Wales in communities? Because it strikes me there's probably very little knowledge out there about the landfill disposals tax itself, and maybe there would be more applications forthcoming if there was a greater awareness. So, if you could tell us a little bit more about that, that would be very helpful.

Just looking through my list, it doesn't appear there are any successful applications from Monmouth; I don't know if there were any that were unsuccessful, but I'd certainly be happy to look into that and write to the Member.FootnoteLink As I said in my answer to Rhianon Passmore, the WCVA run the scheme for us. They promote it, they publicise it, they use a range of mechanisms—I know they do specific events, they have newsletters, they use social media. And, again, there's been a very high level of demand for the scheme. So, I think they are promoting it in a way that's been very successful, but of course we can always do more, and I will certainly encourage that.

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