Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Peter Bone (Conservative). It was answered by Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour) on Wednesday, 27 January 2010 on behalf of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

NHS Charities

Question: What discussions she has had with the Charity Commission and the Secretary of State for Health on proposed changes to the accounting treatment of NHS charities.

Answer: I have discussed the accounting arrangements for NHS charities with the Charity Commission and with the Minister of State, Department of Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Phil Hope). The funds of an NHS charity are, and will continue to be, controlled by the charity’s trustees for charitable purposes. The international financial reporting standard will have no effect on the independence of those funds. My hon. Friend the Member for Corby, however, has engaged with colleagues in the Treasury to seek to delay the implementation of that requirement for a further year.

Secondary information