(1)The Treasury may by order provide that an NHS foundation trust (see the table in section 986) is liable to corporation tax in relation to a specified activity or class of activity.
(2)The Treasury may make an order under subsection (1) only—
(a)in relation to an activity or class of activity that appears to the Treasury to be of a commercial nature, and
(b)if the condition in subsection (3) is met.
(3)The condition is that the making of an order appears to the Treasury to be expedient for the purpose of avoiding, removing or reducing differences between—
(a)the tax treatment of the body undertaking the activity, and
(b)the tax treatment of another body or class of body which is of a commercial nature and which undertakes or might undertake the same or a similar activity.
(4)For the purposes of subsection (2)(a) an activity authorised under section 43(1) of the National Health Service Act 2006 is not to be treated as an activity of a commercial nature.
(5)An order under subsection (1) must make provision for determining the amount of the profits relating to an activity that are to be charged to corporation tax as a result of the order.
(6)An order under subsection (1) may in particular—
(a)make provision for disregarding profits of less than a specified amount in respect of a relevant period,
(b)make provision for disregarding a specified part of profits in respect of a relevant period, or
(c)make provision for disregarding all or part of profits relating to activity for which receipts or turnover (as defined by the order) are less than a specified amount in respect of a relevant period.
(7)“Relevant period” means—
(a)a financial year or accounting period, or
(b)a specified part of a financial year or accounting period.
(8)An order under subsection (1)—
(a)may apply, with or without modification, a provision of the Tax Acts,
(b)may disapply a provision of the Tax Acts,
(c)may make provision similar to a provision of the Tax Acts, and
(d)may make provision generally or in relation to a specified body or class of bodies.
(9)No order may be made under subsection (1) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before and approved by a resolution of the House of Commons.