Regulation 24 Fees in relation to approval

(1)

The regulator may charge a fee in connection with approval, and re-approval, of courses of initial education and training, qualifications, tests of knowledge of English, and AMHPs courses falling within regulation 20(1).

(2)

Any fee charged by the regulator under paragraph (1)—

(a)

may be set at a level which exceeds the cost of the approval in respect of which it is charged,

(b)

must be set with a view to ensuring that, so far as possible, the regulator’s fee income in any year does not exceed the regulator’s expenses in the same year.

(3)

The regulator must make rules in relation to the charging of any fee under paragraph (1), setting out —

(a)

the time within which any fee is to be paid,

(b)

the circumstances in which a fee—

(i)

is not chargeable,

(ii)

may be reduced,

(iii)

may be refunded, in whole or in part, or

(iv)

may be waived, and

(c)

the steps the regulator may take in the event that a fee charged under paragraph (1) is not paid within the time set, including—

(i)

refusing to approve, or re-approve, the course, qualification or test in question,

(ii)

recovery of the fee as a civil debt.

(4)

The regulator must pay any fee income received under this regulation to the Secretary of State, unless the Secretary of State with the consent of the Treasury directs otherwise.