Where an NHS trust becomes an NHS foundation trust, the amount which was the public dividend capital of the trust immediately before the giving of the authorisation continues as public dividend capital of the NHS foundation trust held on the same conditions (“initial public dividend capital”), but subject to this section.

Any amount issued to an NHS foundation trust as public dividend capital under section 11 is (like initial public dividend capital) an asset of the Consolidated Fund.

The Secretary of State may, with the consent of the Treasury, decide the terms on which any public dividend capital of an NHS foundation trust is to be treated as having been issued.

But the dividend to be paid by the trust is to be the same as that payable by NHS trusts in England in pursuance of section 9(7) of the 1990 Act (dividend on public dividend capital).

Before exercising the power in subsection (3), the Secretary of State must consult the regulator.

Any amount paid to the Secretary of State by an NHS foundation trust by way of repayment of public dividend capital is to be paid into the Consolidated Fund.