Part 11Property and finance

Chapter 5Formation of companies

223Public-private partnerships

(1)

The Secretary of State F1or F2NHS England may form, or participate in forming, companies to provide facilities or services to persons or bodies exercising functions, or otherwise providing services, under this Act.

(2)

The Secretary of State F3or F2NHS England may, with a view to securing or facilitating the provision by companies of facilities or services to persons or bodies falling within subsection (1)—

(a)

invest in the companies (whether by acquiring assets, securities or rights or otherwise), or

(b)

provide loans and guarantees and make other kinds of financial provision to or in respect of them,

or both.

(3)

For the purposes of subsections (1) and (2) it is immaterial that the facilities or services provided or to be provided by the companies in question are not provided or to be provided—

(a)

only to persons or bodies falling within subsection (1), or

(b)

to persons or bodies falling within subsection (1) only in their capacities as persons or bodies such as are mentioned in that provision.

(4)

“Companies” means companies F4as defined in section 1(1) of the Companies Act 2006 (c. 6).

(5)

This section does not affect any powers of the Secretary of State F5or F2NHS England exercisable otherwise than by virtue of this section.