Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises

(2003/C 246/11)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Aid No: XS 43/03

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: Wales

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Reactive Development Programme

Legal basis: Welsh Development Agency Act 1975, as amended

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The scheme will provide funding to support SMEs over a 4 year period as follows:

- 2003/2004: GBP 600000

- 2004/2005: GBP 600000

- 2005/2006: GBP 600000

- 2006/2007: GBP 600000.

The funding will support a maximum of 200 SMEs per annum which meet the definition of Annex 1 of the SME Block Exemption

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum aid intensity will be 50 % of the consultancy costs. It is estimated that no one SME will receive more than GBP 20000 worth of aid

Date of implementation: 1 April 2003

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 31 March 2007

Objective of aid: Through the use of proven third party consultants the Reactive Development Programme addresses specific business improvement needs, in order to improve the efficiencies of Welsh-based clients, thereby helping them to reduce costs, retain existing business and secure new business

Economic sector(s) concerned: All sectors, without prejudice to special rules in regulations and directives concerning State aid in certain sectors

Name and address of the granting authority: Gareth Loundes Welsh Development Agency Plas Glyndwr

Kingsway

Cardiff CF10 3AH United Kingdom

Other information: Larger companies may be provided with similar support under de minimis

Aid No: XS 50/03

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: West Midlands

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Environmental Business Growth Action Plan

Legal basis: - Regional Development Agencies Act 1998

- Industrial Development Act 1982, Sections 7 and 11

- Industrial Development Act 1988, Section 8, Section 126

- Housing Grant Construction and Regeneration Act 1996

- Industrial Development 1982, Section 11

- Section 2 of the Local Government Act 2000

- Part 3 of Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban

- Environment Act 1995

- National Lottery Act 1998

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: Annual Public Expenditure by year:

- 2003: GBP 3161127

- 2004: GBP 3681398

- 2005: GBP 3471271

- 2006: GBP 2916859

- 2007: GBP 2509624

- 2008: GBP 2023782.

Total for the Scheme: GBP 17764061

Maximum aid intensity: SMEs will meet the SME definition as per Annex 1 of the 70/2001 regulation.

For consultancy and trade fairs the maximum intervention rate will be 50 %. For grants the maximum intervention rate will comply with the regional aid ceilings, with a maximum of 30 % for investment in tangible assets.

The maximum value of aid that will be provided under the programme to any one SME will be GBP 100000, although the actual amount cumulated over all possible actions, is expected to be much lower.

The average direct capital grant is expected to be GBP 25000

Date of implementation: 1 March 2003

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: From 1 March 2003 to 30 June 2007 in accordance with the current regulation. Following this the scheme will comply with the regulations then in force

Objective of aid: To provide consultancy assistance to help improve SMEs' environmental efficiency and assist them to diversify into the area of environmental products and services. The scheme will also provide assistance with participation in trade fairs and very small grants toward capital costs to help the conversion of the business. In this very new and rapidly developing area, SMEs would be unable to access the necessary level of specialist advice and support without assistance

Economic sector(s) concerned: All manufacturing and all services. Without prejudice to special rules, regulations and directives concerning state aid in certain sectors

Name and address of the granting authority: David Hill Government Office West Midlands 77 Paradise Circus

Queensway

Birmingham B1 2DT United Kingdom

Other information: Action Plan Accountable Body: Environment Agency Sapphire East

550 Streetsbrook Road

Solihull B91 1QT United Kingdom Contacts: Marisa Gunn - Programme Manager

Gerard Scott - Programme Officer

Tel. 0121 711 23 24