(1)In this Part “special leasing”, in relation to plant or machinery, means hiring out the plant or machinery otherwise than in the course of any other qualifying activity (and references to a lessor or lessee in the context of special leasing are to be read accordingly).
(2)A qualifying activity consisting of special leasing of plant or machinery begins when the plant or machinery is first hired out in the circumstances given in subsection (1).
(3)A qualifying activity consisting of special leasing of plant or machinery is permanently discontinued if the lessor permanently ceases to hire out the plant or machinery otherwise than in the course of any other qualifying activity.
(4)A person who has more than one item of plant or machinery that is the subject of special leasing has a separate qualifying activity in relation to each item.
(5)If a company carrying on any life assurance business—
(a)hires out plant or machinery which is an investment asset (as defined by section 545(2)), and
(b)does not do so in the course of a property business,
the company is to be treated for the purposes of subsection (1) as hiring out the plant or machinery otherwise than in the course of a qualifying activity.