EN Official Journal of the European Union C 90/17

Summary information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 of 23 December 2003 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production, processing and marketing of agricultural products

(2007/C 90/06)

XA Number: XA 111/06

Member state: United Kingdom

Region: East of England

Title of Aid Scheme: Improving the competitiveness of the East of England's Agri-business sector

Legal Basis: Section 5 of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998.

Expenditure planned under the scheme:

29 December 2006 — 31 March 2007 GBP 120 000 1 April 2007 — 31 March 2008 GBP 240 000 1 April 2008 — 31 March 2009 GBP 240 000

Maximum Aid Intensity: The aid intensity is 100 %

Date of Implementation:

Duration of Scheme: Until 31 March 2009

Objective of aid: Sectoral development. The scheme will provide information, advice and training service for farmers, farmer controlled businesses (FCBs) and other businesses within the agricultural supply chain in the East of England

The scheme will provide advice on collaboration to improve farm business performance and efficiency and help improve the marketing of agricultural produce

The aid will be paid in line with Article 14 of Regulation 1/2004 and the eligible costs will be consultancy services and the costs of organising training programmes.

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme is aimed primarily at businesses active in the production of agricultural products, namely cereals and arable crops and red meat. However, some businesses in other parts of the wider agricultural supply chain (including processing and marketing) may also be eligible to take part. The scheme is therefore ultimately open to businesses producing (or processing or marketing) cereals and other arable crops, pork, beef and sheep meat or products derived from these.

Name and address of the granting authority:

East of England Development Agency The Business Centre Station Rd Histon Cambridge CB4 9LQ United Kingdom

Web-Address: http://www.eeda.org.uk/files/Improving_competiveness.pdf

Alternatively, information on this scheme can be accessed via the UK's central web listing for exempted agricultural state aid schemes:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/state-aid/setup/exist-exempt.htm

Other Information: The scheme will be open to businesses in the agricultural supply chain which process or market products not listed on in Annex 1 to the Treaty establishing the European Community. Aid to such businesses will be paid in line with Regulation 69/2001 on de minimis aid or any regulation replacing it

Beneficiaries will not be able to choose their own service provider. The service provider will be EFFP who were selected and will be remunerated according to market principle.

Signed and dated on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (UK competent authority):

Neil Marr

Agricultural State Aid Advisor

Defra

8B 9 Millbank

c/o 17 Smith Square

London SW1P 3JR

United Kingdom

XA Number: XA 112/06

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: North West Regional Development Agency

Title of Aid Scheme or Name of Company receiving an individual aid: Lancashire Tea Company Limited.

Legal Basis: The Governments powers for Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) and Selective Finance for Investment in England (SFIE) are provided in Section 7 of the Industrial Development Act 1982. Section 7(1) of the Act provides for financial assistance to be given on a discretionary basis in order to provide, maintain or safeguard employment in the Assisted Areas (AAs). Offers of assistance in England are subject to the consent of the Treasury.

Annual Expenditure planned under the scheme or Overall Amount of individual aid granted to the Company: A Selective Finance for Investment grant of GBP 83 000 payable in 2 instalments over a an 18 month period.

Maximum Aid Intensity:: An SFIE grant of GBP 83 000 equates to 30 % of the company's total project capital expenditure 276 000.

Date of Implementation: The project is due to commence 29th December 2006

Duration of Scheme or Individual Aid award: The grant will be paid in 2 instalments when capital expenditure, job creation and productivity growth targets have been met. The final payments will be made on 31st March 2009.

Objective of Aid: The objective is Regional Aid. The grant complies with Article 7 of European Commission Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 which deals with investment in manufacturing, processing and marketing of agricultural products. The eligible costs will be the purchase of new plant and equipment and equipment, namely a Catering Pack machine, Foil Wrap machine, Bag machine and ancillary equipment.

Sector(s) Concerned: The main activity of Lancashire Tea Company Limited is the processing and packaging of teabags of tea blended to a special regional formulation.

Name and Address of the granting authority:

North West Regional Development Agency PO Box 37, Renaissance House Centre Park Warrington WA1 1XB United KIngdom

Web Address: http://www.nwda.co.uk/RelatedContent.aspx?area=86&subarea=252&item=20029190203189955

Scroll down the page and click on the Defra State Aid link on the right hand side.

http://defraweb/farm/policy/state-aid/setup/exist-exempt.htm

Other Information: This grant is being made under the Selective Finance for Investment scheme which was approved as regional selective assistance under N 731/2000. The processing of Annex 1 products is however excluded from approval to scheme N 731/2000 and Lancashire Tea's products fall under Annex 1. Therefore the grant is being notified under Regulation 1/2004. Lancashire Tea Company Ltd is based in the Merseyside Objective 1 region

The project will also be eligible for loan guarantee schemes which are also state aid. The accumulation does not take it over the 50 % aid intensity limit

Details of the offer targets can be found in the full text document.

Signed and dated on behalf of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (UK competent authority)

Neil Marr

Agricultural State Aid Advisor

Defra

8B 9 Millbank

c/o 17 Smith Square

London SW1P 3JR

United Kingdom