(1)In this Act, “subsidy” means financial assistance which—
(a)is given, directly or indirectly, from public resources by a public authority,
(b)confers an economic advantage on one or more enterprises,
(c)is specific, that is, is such that it benefits one or more enterprises over one or more other enterprises with respect to the production of goods or the provision of services, and
(d)has, or is capable of having, an effect on—
(i)competition or investment within the United Kingdom,
(ii)trade between the United Kingdom and a country or territory outside the United Kingdom, or
(iii)investment as between the United Kingdom and a country or territory outside the United Kingdom.
(2)For the purposes of this Act, the means by which financial assistance may be given include—
(a)a direct transfer of funds (such as grants or loans);
(b)a contingent transfer of funds (such as guarantees);
(c)the forgoing of revenue that is otherwise due;
(d)the provision of goods or services;
(e)the purchase of goods or services.
(3)Financial assistance given from the person’s resources by a person who is not a public authority is to be treated for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) as financial assistance given from public resources by a public authority if the involvement of a public authority in the decision to give financial assistance is such that the decision is, in substance, the decision of the public authority.
(4)For the purposes of subsection (3), the factors which may be taken into account when considering the involvement of a public authority in the decision of a person to give financial assistance include, in particular, factors relating to—
(a)the control exercised over that person by that public authority, or
(b)the relationship between that person and that public authority.
(5)For the purposes of this Act, financial assistance is to be treated as given to an enterprise if the enterprise has an enforceable right to the financial assistance.
(6)For further provision relevant to the interpretation of this section, see—
(a)section 3 (financial assistance which confers an economic advantage);
(b)section 4 (financial assistance which is specific);
(c)section 5 (modification for air carriers);
(d)section 6 (meaning of “public authority”);
(e)sections 7 and 8 (meaning of “enterprise”).