It is a bail out, as Mr. Horse says (he has it spot on and well pointed out) he (Ratan Tata) has stated that he needs the money; you can call it a loan, but it is totally unsecured (or we end up with JLR if all goes belly up.....which woudl mean even more money) and thus as they need it, IT IS a bail out. Ratan Tata said that he was going to fund it, I think it is terrible for the folks at JLR (really terrible) but no I do not think the UK gov. should give it any loan AT ALL; the EU can loan them what they like, but the the UK gov....NO.
Ratan Tata has enough money of his own, as above, he knew the position of the business when he bought it and promised to invest etc......he needs to use some of his own money; he cannot keep turning around and black mailing the UK gov. It is an Indian owned firm (good bliss indian and indians, they are wonderful people) but the firm is indian and not UK owned; the Indians at the G20 were worried about protectionism, thus they should bail out JLR and show that they stick by there word, they should put money in and if they refuse then they are not good for their word.
Ratan Tata knew the risk, the UK gov. should not give them any loan (at all); JLR have access to funds other tech. firms can only dream of.....£500 million....if the banks will not lend him the money it is for a good reason! i.e. his business plan does not stack up....if Ratan Tata can afford to sponsor Ferrari then he can afford to pay for JLR.....if not he will have to sell it.......or JLR have to reduce the price of there cars to shift the volume required to survive....as someone else said...."simples"!!
UK Gov. "NO"....DO NOT DO IT.....