Public Bill Committee: 19 March 2009

445

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill, continued

authorised person to be given permission to do anything that a person authorised by a

provision of Part 1 of the Education Act 2005 (c. 18) to inspect documents could do by

virtue of section 58 of that Act (computer records).’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment clarifies that Ofqual may set an “entry and inspection condition” that allows a

person authorised by Ofqual to inspect and copy electronic records in the same way as a person

would be able to do if authorised under section 58 of the Education Act 2005.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

297

Clause  135,  page  77,  line  20,  leave out ‘from time to time’.

Member’s explanatory statement

See Member’s explanatory statement for amendment 290.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

447

Clause  136,  page  77,  line  30,  leave out from beginning to first ‘the’ in line 34 and

insert—

‘(1)	Where a qualification is subject to the accreditation requirement Ofqual must

accredit a particular form of the qualification if—

(a)	that form of the qualification has been submitted for accreditation by a

recognised body which is recognised in respect of the qualification, and

(b)	that form of’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment ensures the function of accrediting qualifications applies to each form of a

qualification which requires accreditation rather than the qualification as a whole. The effect is

that an awarding body must obtain accreditation for each form of such a qualification which it

proposes to award or authenticate.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

448

Clause  136,  page  77,  line  35,  at end insert—

‘( )	Ofqual may not accredit a form of a qualification if the requirements set out in

paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) are not met in respect of that form of the

qualification.

( )	An accreditation under this section has effect from such date as Ofqual may

specify.’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment clarifies that Ofqual must accredit a form of a qualification if it meets the relevant

requirements, but not otherwise; and that it is for Ofqual to specify the date on which an

accreditation comes into force (which may be later than the decision to accredit).

Public Bill Committee: 19 March 2009

446

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill, continued

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

449

Clause  136,  page  77,  line  36,  leave out ‘the accreditation of a qualification’ and

insert ‘accreditation under this section’.

Member’s explanatory statement

See Member’s explanatory statement for amendment 447. This amendment is consequent on that

amendment.

Mr David Laws

Stephen Williams

Annette Brooke

223

Clause  136,  page  77,  line  39,  at end add ‘and must establish, at the request of the

applicant, arrangements for the review of that decision.’.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

450

Clause  137,  page  78,  line  2,  leave out from ‘for’ to end of line 3 and insert

‘accreditation under section 136.’.

Member’s explanatory statement

See Member’s explanatory statement for amendment 447. This amendment is consequent on that

amendment.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

298

Clause  137,  page  78,  line  6,  leave out ‘from time to time’.

Member’s explanatory statement

See Member’s explanatory statement for amendment 290.

Mr David Laws

Stephen Williams

Annette Brooke

224

Clause  137,  page  78,  line  8,  after ‘consult’, insert ‘relevant recognised awarding

bodies and’.

Mr Nick Gibb

Mr John Hayes

Mrs Maria Miller

Bill Wiggin

199

Clause  137,  page  78,  line  9,  at end add ‘and must include in such contributions

representatives of the higher education sector and representatives of business.’.

Public Bill Committee: 19 March 2009

447

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill, continued

Mr Nick Gibb

Mr John Hayes

Mrs Maria Miller

Bill Wiggin

383

Clause  137,  page  78,  line  9,  at end add—

‘(6)	In establishing accreditation criteria for qualifications, Ofqual must have regard

to the desirability of raising standards whenever possible.’.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

451

Clause  137,  page  78,  line  9,  at end insert —

‘(6)	If Ofqual revises the criteria under this section which are applicable to a form of

a qualification which is accredited under section 136, the accreditation ceases to

have effect on the date specified by Ofqual.

(7)	Ofqual may vary the date specified under subsection (6) at any time before the

date.

(8)	Ofqual may determine that subsection (6) does not apply in relation to a specified

revision.

(9)	Ofqual must publish a determination made under subsection (8).

(10)	Ofqual may make saving or transitional provision in connection with the

accreditation of a form of a qualification ceasing to have effect under

subsection (6).’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment provides that if Ofqual revises accreditation criteria applicable to a form of a

qualification which has been accredited, that accreditation ceases on a date specified by Ofqual,

unless Ofqual determines otherwise. Ofqual may make saving or transitional provision about a

form of qualification ceasing to be accredited.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

452

Clause  138,  page  78,  line  16,  leave out ‘relation to’ and insert ‘respect of’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This is a technical drafting amendment to achieve consistency with the wording of clause 138(1).

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

453

Clause  138,  page  78,  line  22,  leave out ‘this section’ and insert ‘subsection (1)’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment is consequent on amendment 458.

Mr Nick Gibb

Mr John Hayes

Mrs Maria Miller

Bill Wiggin

233

Clause  138,  page  78,  line  23,  at end insert—

Public Bill Committee: 19 March 2009

448

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill, continued

‘(4A)

Ofqual shall include it its annual report a copy of the publication in subsection (4)

and how it responded to the determination.’.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

454

Clause  138,  page  78,  line  23,  at end insert—

‘( )	Subsection (5) applies in relation to a qualification or description of qualification

in respect of which a determination under subsection (1) has effect.’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment is consequent on amendment 458.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

455

Clause  138,  page  78,  line  24,  leave out ‘or 137 in relation to a’ and insert ‘, 131 or

137 in relation to the’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment adds Ofqual’s functions under clause 131 (power to set general conditions) to the

list of functions which Ofqual must exercise for the purposes of implementing a determination

made under clause 138(1).

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

456

Clause  138,  page  78,  line  25,  leave out ‘to which a determination under this section

applies’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment is consequent on amendment 458.

Mr Nick Gibb

Mrs Maria Miller

Mr John Hayes

Bill Wiggin

141

Clause  138,  page  78,  line  27,  at end add—

‘(5A)

Ofqual must set a minimum requirement in respect of an academic qualification

relating to the knowledge a person must demonstrate in order to obtain the

qualification or qualifications in question.’.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

457

Clause  138,  page  78,  line  30,  leave out ‘or will’ and insert ‘, will be or may

reasonably be expected to’.

Member’s explanatory statement

See Member’s explanatory statement for amendment 436.

Mr David Laws

Stephen Williams

Annette Brooke

5

Clause  138,  page  78,  line  31,  at end insert—

Public Bill Committee: 19 March 2009

449

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill, continued

‘(7)	The Secretary of State must not make a determination under subsection (1)

relating to the grading or assessment of qualifications.’.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

458

Clause  138,  page  78,  line  31,  at end insert—

‘( )	A determination made under subsection (1) may be amended or revoked by the

Secretary of State; and subsection (4) applies to the amendment of a

determination as it applies to the making of a determination.’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment gives the Secretary of State the power to amend or revoke a determination made

under clause 138(1). If a determination is amended, it must be published as revised and notice of

it given to Ofqual.

Mr David Laws

Stephen Williams

Annette Brooke

69

Page  78,  line  11,  leave out Clause 138. 

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

459

Clause  139,  page  78,  line  33,  leave out ‘regulated qualification’ and insert

‘particular form of a qualification in respect of which it is recognised’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment and amendment 462 ensure that where a body is recognised in respect of a

qualification which is relevant for 2008 Act purposes, it must assign guided learning hours to each

individual form of the qualification awarded by it, such as a particular version of GCSE English.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

460

Clause  139,  page  78,  line  35,  leave out ‘regulated’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment corrects a misuse of the term “regulated qualification” and clarifies that whether

a qualification is relevant for 2008 Act purposes is to be determined in relation to the qualification

as a whole and not in relation to individual forms of the qualification.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

461

Clause  139,  page  78,  line  38,  leave out ‘regulated’.

Member’s explanatory statement

See Member’s explanatory statement for amendment 460. This amendment is consequent on that

amendment.

Public Bill Committee: 19 March 2009

450

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill, continued

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

462

Clause  139,  page  78,  line  40,  after ‘to’ insert ‘the particular form of’.

Member’s explanatory statement

See Member’s explanatory statement for amendment 459.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

463

Clause  139,  page  79,  line  1,  leave out ‘regulated’.

Member’s explanatory statement

See Member’s explanatory statement for amendment 460. This amendment is consequent on that

amendment.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

464

Clause  139,  page  79,  line  3,  leave out ‘most recently published’ and insert ‘then in

force’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment ensures it is the criteria for assignment of a number of hours of guided learning

which are in force for the time being that are applicable for the purposes of this section. Those

criteria may not come into force immediately when published.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

465

Clause  139,  page  79,  line  5,  leave out ‘regulated’.

Member’s explanatory statement

See Member’s explanatory statement for amendment 460. This amendment is consequent on that

amendment.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

466

Clause  139,  page  79,  line  7,  leave out paragraph (b) and insert—

‘(b)	in respect of a qualification which the body has determined is relevant for

those purposes, a number of hours of guided learning to assign to a form

of the qualification.’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment and amendment 475 are technical drafting amendments which recognise that

whether a qualification is relevant for 2008 Act purposes is a matter which is to be determined by

the relevant recognised body. This amendment is also consequent on amendments 459 and 462.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

467

Clause  139,  page  79,  line  9,  leave out ‘Ofqual publishes revised criteria’ and insert

‘revised criteria come into force’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment ensures that the duty of a recognised body to review a determination under clause

139 applies when revised criteria for making those determinations come into force (rather than

Public Bill Committee: 19 March 2009

451

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill, continued

when they are published).

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

468

Clause  139,  page  79,  line  17,  leave out ‘regulated’.

Member’s explanatory statement

See Member’s explanatory statement for amendment 460. This amendment is consequent on that

amendment.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

469

Clause  139,  page  79,  line  20,  leave out ‘the qualification’ and insert ‘a form of the

qualification awarded or authenticated by the recognised body’.

Member’s explanatory statement

See the Member’s explanatory statement for amendment 459. This amendment is consequent on

that amendment and amendment 462.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

470

Clause  139,  page  79,  line  22,  leave out from ‘having’ to end of line 24 and insert

‘determined to assign that number of hours of guided learning to that form of the

qualification’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment achieves the technical change referred to in the Member’s explanatory statement

for amendment 466. It also ensures that any determination made by Ofqual to assign guided

learning hours to a form of a qualification applies as if made by the relevant recognised body for

all purposes.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

471

Clause  139,  page  79,  line  25,  leave out ‘regulated’.

Member’s explanatory statement

See Member’s explanatory statement for amendment 460. This amendment is consequent on that

amendment.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

472

Clause  139,  page  79,  line  30,  after ‘to’ insert ‘a form of’.

Member’s explanatory statement

See Member’s explanatory statement for amendment 459. This amendment is consequent on that

amendment and amendment 462.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

473

Clause  139,  page  79,  line  33,  after ‘obtain’ insert ‘that form of’.

Member’s explanatory statement

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Revised 19 March 2009