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Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill

My Lords, we agree with the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, that it is important for Ofqual to consult the recognised awarding bodies that it regulates on changes to relevant criteria. However, has the noble Baroness or the Minister given much thought to the fact that the most important people to consult should be the users of qualifications? Employers, universities and colleges, for example, are the principal consumers of these qualifications and so their views should be taken into account. Amendment 254 would place on Ofqual a duty to make a saving or transitional provision if a qualification ceased to have effect. It seems remarkably sensible that this should be a duty and not just a power. Can the Minister perhaps give us an example of when it would not be appropriate for Ofqual to provide this transitional provision if a qualification ceased to have effect? Can he also inform the Committee what would happen if a qualification ceased to have effect and students were left midway through an assessment process that no longer existed? I look forward to the Minister’s response.