§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what requirement there is on the special trustees of each of the London teaching hospitals to consider the health needs of(a) London as a whole and (b) the area of London the hospital services, when making decisions as to the use of assets and income under their control; [83130]
(2) if he will introduce an equalisation scheme for the use of assets and income held by NHS special trustees; [83129]
(3) if he will reform the system of special trustees operating in NHS hospitals to increase accountability for decisions on spending; and if he will make a statement; [83128]
(4) if he will list the special trustees for each of the London (a) non-teaching NHS acute trusts and (b) teaching hospitals; how they are accountable for decisions; how they are appointed; what total value of (i) capital investments, (ii) other capital assets, and (iii) income they supervise; what projects over £100,000 they have financed in each of the last three years; what projects they intend to fund over £100,000 in the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [83127]
§ Mr. LammySpecial trustees hold and administer charity funds in accordance with trust and charity law, which requires them to comply with the trusts on which they are held. They are regulated in England and Wales by the Charity Commission and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health quite properly does not have powers to amend these trusts. Decisions about how funds are to be applied rest with the trustees, who are accountable to the Charity Commission. Special trustees are only able to hold funds mainly or wholly for the hospitals for which they are appointed.