Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what restrictions apply to the sale of shares in any wholly owned company limited by shares which have been set up by a NHS Foundation Trust.

Legislation permitting foundation trusts to set up subsidiary companies has been in place since 2004 and specific restrictions on subsequent sale were not put in place at that time or subsequently.

Restrictions for foundation trusts on the sale of assets exist where disposal would affect commissioner requested services, but that only applies in specific limited cases.