Section 4 Preparation of standardsI1I2

Section ZA11 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (standards) is amended as follows.

For subsection (3) substitute—

“(3)

Each standard must be prepared by a group of persons and approved by the Secretary of State, subject to subsection (3A).

(3A)

The Secretary of State may prepare a standard if satisfied that it would be more appropriate for the standard to be prepared by the Secretary of State than by a group of persons.”

In subsection (4), for the words from “The group” to “been” substitute “Where a standard is prepared by a group of persons, the group must be”.

For subsection (6) substitute—

“(6)

The Secretary of State may convene a group of persons to prepare a standard for an occupation if satisfied that—

(a)

there is a need for a standard for that occupation, and

(b)

no group will prepare the standard unless one is convened to do so.”

In subsection (7), after paragraph (a) insert—

“(aa)

information about matters that the Secretary of State takes into account in deciding whether it would be more appropriate for a standard to be prepared by the Secretary of State than by a group of persons for the purposes of subsection (3A);”.

In section A1 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (meaning of “approved English apprenticeship” etc), for “approved standard”, in each place it occurs, substitute “published standard”.