Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:52 pm on 8 November 2022.
Thank you, and thank you, Trefnydd, for your response on that question. A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of visiting the Blue Turtle Group, who are based in the queen of resorts, in Llandudno, and Blue Turtle are a company who process the applications for the ECO4 scheme. As you'll be aware, Trefnydd, it's a UK-wide scheme, an initiative that requires energy companies to fund grants from their profits to improve the energy efficiency of people's homes, the main objective being looking to improve the energy efficiency of those who are on the lowest income, and perhaps who are vulnerable. It's worth £1 billion a year and it's expected to upgrade 450,000 homes across the UK, and I think Wales should be doing its utmost to get the most of that £1 billion and to see an upgrade to as many homes here in Wales as possible, because it's such an important time in terms of both the cost of living and the climate emergency.
So, in light of this, how is the Welsh Government looking to ensure that this scheme is maximised for Wales, and what support is the Welsh Government giving to local authorities to ensure that those applications for this funding are processed as easily and as quickly as possible?