Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill

I feel that must respond to what I have come to recognise sometimes—only sometimes—as what I would describe as Lucasian hyperbole. We have no desire—I am sure that the noble Lord recognises this—in any way to undermine or penalise small, specialist bodies. They have a vital and essential part to play in awards. Nothing that I have said and nothing in the provisions can in any way lead you to deduce that conclusion. The idea was posed that we are giving Ofqual, as a regulator, powers that other regulators do not have. That is absolutely untrue. We are not polluting anything; we are doing what we should be doing as a Committee, as a House—ensuring that customers and consumers of the product get a fair deal. They are not necessarily always able to judge whether the market is absolutely perfect, or whether there is some kind of cartel operating. There may or may not be. We do not presume to judge the situation. I find it surprising that, given that many of the amendments come from or are, shall we say, supported by the awarding bodies, there is not just a touch of concern about what I could describe as a vested interest. We have a duty to look at both sides of the equation. As I said, we want to encourage the development of high-quality awards, but we also want them to be provided at a reasonable cost. I should have thought that my noble friends on all the opposition Benches would have supported that premise. Although I am an admirer of his imaginative responses, it is unnecessary to say, as the noble Lord, Lord Elton, suggested, that somehow for this regulator to operate at all, we need an affirmative resolution. We do not say that of Ofgem or other regulators. It is not a viable, necessary or practical way forward. If we are serious about ensuring that we give value for money for schools, colleges and learners, and I believe this Committee is, we have an obligation to ensure that they get a fair deal, that we drive up the quality of the awards and that they are delivered in an efficient manner. Given my previous comments and the assurances about the role of Ofqual and the safeguards, I hope the noble Baroness will withdraw the amendment.