---

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill

I shall respond briefly to the noble Lord’s question about guided learning hours. I would expect schools, colleges and providers of courses of study leading to a qualification to ensure that the guided study hours are fulfilled. On the appropriate number of hours to be attached to a given qualification, I see the decision on that as very much part of the role of Ofqual. Indeed, I expect that to be a key contribution for it to make. Subsection (12) means that Ofqual does not need to apply guided learning hours to the award of credits simply because credits are combined to make full qualifications, and for these purposes it is full qualifications that we are interested in. I assume that the "we" refers to Ofqual. It may be helpful if I write to the noble Lord further on this if I have not given him the clarification he is looking for.