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<p>Although the UK has left the EU, under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, the
EU State Aid rules continue to apply in the UK until the end of the Transition Period.</p><p>
</p><p>As a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, the European Commission has introduced
some welcome flexibilities into the rules to deal with the impacts of the Coronavirus,
in the form of a Temporary Framework. This facilitates aid going to the businesses
who need it most, quickly and more efficiently.</p><p> </p><p>A business can receive
up to EUR 800,000 of Temporary Framework aid. Other support can be given under the
normal de minimis rules. These allow up to EUR 200,000 to be given to a business in
a three-year period. De minimis aid can be received in addition to Temporary Framework
aid.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Retail, Hospitality & Leisure Grant
Fund is under the provisions of the Temporary Framework. A grant for a specific shop
would come out of a charity’s €800,000 allowance if that charity were considered to
control that retail shop. A case by case analysis of each charity retailer’s company
structure and activities would be necessary to determine this. The number of shops
each charity would be considered to control boils down to whether it exercises sufficient
control (either legally or factually) over shops such that they ought to be considered
for state aid purposes to be one organisation.</p><p> </p><p>The combination of these
and other measures constitute an unprecedented programme of Government support for
business to address the impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic.</p>
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