Overview

This bill transfers the responsibilities and assets of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) to the Secretary of State, abolishes IfATE, and makes related amendments to existing legislation.

Description

The bill's key actions are:

• Function Transfer (Clause 1 & Schedule 1): IfATE's functions relating to apprenticeships and technical education standards, assessment plans, and qualifications are transferred to the Secretary of State. This involves numerous amendments to the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009, the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008, the Enterprise Act 2016, the Technical and Further Education Act 2017, and the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022.
• Asset Transfer (Clause 2 & Schedule 2): IfATE's property, rights, and liabilities are transferred to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State can create schemes to handle the transfer of assets, including those acquired after the scheme is made, and address issues like employment contracts.
• Abolition (Clause 3 & Schedule 3): IfATE is formally abolished. Consequential amendments are made to various Acts to remove references to IfATE.
• Amendments to Existing Legislation (Clauses 4-8): The bill modifies existing legislation regarding the creation and approval of apprenticeship standards and assessment plans, reviews of qualifications, examinations by third parties, and the accreditation of technical education qualifications, primarily giving more power to the Secretary of State.
• Consequential and Transitional Provisions (Clauses 9, 12): The Secretary of State is given power to make further regulations to address any issues arising from the transfer of functions and abolition of IfATE.

Government Spending

The bill's impact on government spending is not explicitly stated. The transfer of IfATE's functions and assets to the Secretary of State may lead to shifts in budgetary allocation but the exact financial consequences are not provided within the bill text.

Groups Affected

• The Secretary of State for Education: Gains significant responsibility and authority over apprenticeships and technical education.
• Employers and Training Providers: May experience changes in the processes for developing and approving apprenticeship standards and assessment plans, as well as technical education qualifications.
• Apprentices and Trainees: May see changes in the standards and assessment processes they encounter, though the aim is that these changes will be largely seamless.
• IfATE Employees: Their employment will likely transfer to the Department for Education under the transfer of undertakings regulations, ensuring continued employment rights.
• Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation): Its role in accrediting technical education qualifications is altered, with the Secretary of State now having greater influence on its determinations.

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