Commentary on Sections Functions Section 166 - Information
1043.This section transfers from Monitor to the Secretary of State the power to require information from foundation trusts necessary for the Secretary of State to exercise his functions effectively. Whilst foundation trusts sit within the Department of Health accounting and budgeting boundaries the Department needs information from foundation trusts in order to carry out its functions. These functions include financial management against Parliamentary estimates, Departmental Expenditure Limits and other controls, financial reporting to HM Treasury and those wider reporting requirements made of all Government Departments for both financial and non-financial matters.
1044.This information was previously collected and provided to the Department by Monitor under the terms of authorisation of foundation trusts. Given Monitor’s new remit, it is no longer appropriate for it to continue to collect information on behalf of the Department when it does not have a similar role for other healthcare providers. Therefore, this section requires foundation trusts to provide the required information directly to the Department.