§ Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many requests to the European Commission concerning state aid compliance in the regions of(a) the north west, (b) the north east and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber have been made since 2000; and how many requests have been turned down. [163708]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe following figures set out the best available information on the number of notifications in the regions of the north west, north east and Yorkshire and the Humber made to the European Commission since 2000, excluding agriculture, fishery and transport cases.
North West:
Three SME block exemption, three training aid block exemption and one notified scheme using the full notification procedure—Aid N282/2003 Cumbria Broadband—Project Access—Advancing Communication for Cumbria and Enabling Sustainable Services
North East:
11 SME block exemption, four training aid block exemption and no notified schemes
Yorkshire and Humber:
Four SME block exemption, two training aid block exemption and one notified scheme using the full notification procedure—Aid N486/2003—Yorkshire and Humber Research and Development scheme.
The European Commission has approved all of these schemes.