 House of Commons |
Session 2008 - 09 Publications on the internet General Committee Debates Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill |
The Committee consisted of the following Members:Chris Shaw, James Davies,
Committee Clerks † attended
the Committee Public Bill CommitteeThursday 26 March 2009(Morning)[Mrs. Joan Humble in the Chair]Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning BillWritten evidence to be reported to the HouseAS 25 The
Foundation and Aided Schools National
Association
Clause 125Objectives 9.30
am
The
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children, Schools and
Families (Sarah McCarthy-Fry): I beg to move amendment
429, in
clause 125, page 71, line 32, leave
out ‘different types’ and insert
‘range’. This
technical drafting amendment ensures consistency in the way provisions
of Part 7 refer to “qualifications”. That
term is intended to refer to a particular type of qualification, such
as a History GCSE, and not to a particular form of that qualification
offered by a specific awarding
body.
The
Chairman: With this it will be convenient to discuss
Government amendments 430 to 435, 440, 447 to 450, 459 to 463, 465,
466, 468 to 481, 485 and
503.
Sarah
McCarthy-Fry: Good morning, Mrs. Humble.
Welcome to the Chair on this lovely morning. These 35 related
technical, drafting amendments are aimed primarily at making it clear
throughout part 7 what use we are making of the term
“qualification”. A qualification could be a class of
qualification, such as an A-level, a particular type within that class,
such as A-level maths, or a particular version of that type, such as
awarding body X’s A-level maths. All those descriptions are
relevant for the purposes of the Bill. For example, Ofqual will set
accreditation criteria for types of qualification and will accredit
versions of that type against those criteria. Amendment 503 does
something similar in relation to the arrangements for regulation in
Wales. Many
of the amendments add the word “form” into the clauses or
are about the concept of a form of a qualification or a regulated
qualification. For example, amendment 448 makes it clear that
accreditation has to be in relation to a specific form of a
qualification. The same amendment also allows Ofqual to vary the timing
of when accreditation comes into force; that mirrors some of the
amendments that we agreed on
Tuesday. Question
put, That the amendment be
made. The
Committee divided: Ayes 6, Noes
8.
Division
No.
23] AYESNOESQuestion
accordingly negatived.
Amendment
proposed: 430, in clause 125, page 71, line 38, after
‘any’ insert ‘relevant’.—(Sarah
McCarthy-Fry.) See Member’s explanatory
statement for amendment 431. This technical drafting amendment is
consequent on that
amendment. Question
put, That the amendment be
made. The
Committee divided: Ayes 6, Noes
8.
Division
No.
24] AYESNOESQuestion
accordingly negatived.
Amendment
proposed: 431, in clause 125, page 72, line 1, leave out
from ‘a’ to ‘represent’ in line 2 and
insert ‘qualification in respect of which the body is recognised
under section 129’.—(Sarah
McCarthy-Fry.) This technical drafting
amendment ensures consistency in the way in which the provisions of
Part 7 refer to specific qualifications which an awarding body is
recognises to award or authenticate under clasue
129(1). Question
put, That the amendment be made.
The
Committee divided: Ayes 7, Noes
8.
Division
No.
25] AYESNOESQuestion
accordingly negatived.
Amendment
proposed: 432, in
clause 125, page 72, line 2, at
end add—‘(7) For the purposes of subsection (6) a sum is
relevant if it is payable in respect of the award or authentication of
the qualification in question.’.—(Sarah
McCarthy-Fry.) See Member’s
explanatory statement for 431. This technical drafting amendment is
consequent on that amendment.
Question
put, That the amendment be made.
The
Committee divided: Ayes 8, Noes
8.
Division
No.
26] AYESNOESQuestion
accordingly negatived.
Question
put, That the clause stand part of the
Bill.
The
Minister for Schools and Learners (Jim Knight): On a point
of order, Mrs. Humble. For clarification, will you advise
the Committee on whether we have had a chance to have a stand part
debate on the clause? Do we have that opportunity
now?
The
Chairman: I must advise the Minister that I moved that the
clause stand part and waited for Members to indicate that they wished
to take part in a clause stand part debate. No Member indicated that
they did, so I have moved on to whether the clause should stand part of
the
Bill. The
Committee divided: Ayes 8, Noes
8.
Division
No.
27] AYESNOES |
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