Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 30 September 2020 to Question 97629, what assessment he has made of the benefits to patients of NHS trusts managing their estates and property through a wholly owned subsidiary company.

Current NHS England and NHS Improvement guidance on the creation of Wholly Owned Subsidiaries considers the specific aims of the business case for National Health Service trusts managing their estates and property through a wholly owned subsidiary company.

Trusts are asked to certify that they have considered a detailed options appraisal before deciding that the proposed subsidiary transaction aligns with wider system plans and is at least financially neutral for the wider system. Trusts must also demonstrate that the proposed transaction delivers benefits for patients and for the trust and that the subsidiary is the best vehicle to deliver these benefits.