Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the review of the Addendum to the transactions guidance for trusts forming or changing a subsidiary will include the consideration of the role for NHS Property Services.

On 26 November 2018, NHS Improvement published new guidance on the creation of subsidiaries that allows providers and others to understand what would count as a sound commercial case for setting up subsidiaries.

At the time of publication, NHS England and NHS Improvement committed to a review of the proposals for implementing a subsidiary. The update to the guidance has been delayed by the prioritisation of the National Health Service’s response to COVID-19. NHS England and NHS Improvement are continuing to engage with a range of stakeholders and subject matter experts during this time and the approach, including consideration of the role for NHS Property Services, has not been finalised.

NHS England and NHS Improvement now anticipate that the updated guidance will be published in spring 2021.