BRADFORD TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

That this House notes the proposals from the Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to set up a subsidiary company; expresses concern that the business plan estimates that of the £15 million expected extra income to the Trust in the first five years of the operation of the company, over £10 million is related to savings on VAT with a consequential loss to the public purse; believes that any projections of extra income from new business beyond that period must be considered highly speculative; notes guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care that states that Trusts should not look to create a wholly-owned subsidiary for the primary purpose of avoiding tax or use it as a key driver for exploring the use of this organisational form; and calls on Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to pause their proposals forthwith.