xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"

Health and Social Services trusts

Transfer of assets and liabilities to HSS trusts

13.—(1) The Department may by order transfer or provide for the transfer to an HSS trust, with effect from such date as may be specified in the order, of such of the assets and liabilities of the Department or of a relevant body as, in the Department’s opinion, need to be transferred to the trust for the purpose of enabling it to carry out its functions.

(2) An order under this Article may create or impose such new rights or liabilities in respect of what is transferred or what is retained by the Department or a relevant body as appear to the Department to be necessary or expedient.

(3) Nothing in this Article affects the power of the Department or any power of a relevant body to transfer assets or liabilities to an HSS trust otherwise than under paragraph (1).

(4) Stamp duty shall not be chargeable in respect of any transfer to an HSS trust effected by or by virtue of an order under this Article.

(5) Where an order under this Article provides for the transfer—

(a)of land held on lease from a third party, or

(b)of any other asset leased or hired from a third party or in which a third party has an interest,

the transfer shall be binding on the third party notwithstanding that, apart from this paragraph, it would have required his consent or concurrence.

(6) Any assets and liabilities which are to be transferred to an HSS trust shall be identified by agreement between the trust and a relevant body or, in default of agreement, by direction of the Department.

(7) Where, for the purpose of a transfer pursuant to an order under this Article, it becomes necessary to apportion any assets or liabilities, the order may contain such provisions as appear to the Department to be appropriate for the purpose; and where any such assets fall within paragraph (5), the order shall contain such provisions as appear to the Department to be appropriate to safeguard the interests of third parties, including, where appropriate, provision for the payment of compensation of an amount to be determined in accordance with the order.

(8) In the case of any transfer made by or pursuant to an order under this Article, a certificate issued by the Department that any asset or liability specified in the certificate is vested in the HSS trust specified in the order shall be conclusive evidence of that fact for all purposes.

(9) An order under this Article may include provision for matters to be settled by arbitration by a person determined in accordance with the order.

(10) In this Article “third person” means a person other than the Department or a relevant body.