Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is his policy to implement the proposal to legally require Landfill Operators to provide 10 per cent match funding to release Landfill Communities Fund monies and to remove the Contributing Third Party.

The Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) is a tax credit scheme into which landfill operators contribute voluntarily. Since its introduction in 1996, the LCF has contributed over £1.4bn to community projects in areas affected by a local landfill site. However, as the LCF is a tax credit scheme, it reduces the government’s tax revenues. We therefore have an ongoing responsibility to seek value for money for the taxpayer.

Autumn Statement 2015 announced changes to the Landfill Communities Fund. These changes were set out following consultation by HMRC on reforms to the fund. A summary of consultation responses, including those raising concerns about the Contributory Third Party (CTP) payment, can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/reform-of-the-landfill-communities-fund

The government has received representations on the LCF reforms. We are taking views into consideration and our priority is to ensure that the Fund operates effectively and encourages money to be spent in the communities that need it.

Information on the number of landfill operators contributing to the LCF is not held in the form requested. However, ENTRUST, the fund regulator, has published data on contributions to environmental bodies. This is available at:

http://www.entrust.org.uk/landfill-community-fund/statistics/