Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill
6:31 pm
Mike Creswell: I think the straight answer to your question is that, yes, there are unquestionably commercial issues in competition between awarding bodies. One of the things that I think a strong and independent regulator will provide is an answer to the accusation that standards are dumbed down for commercial reasons. That is one of the reasons why we welcome a regulator. The other reason is because in the end the system that we operate is only there to provide good, valuable qualifications for learners so that they can go on and progress and live happy and fulfilled lives. That will not happen without some very clear public accountability and some very clear public assurance that those qualifications are worth the paper they are printed on. For that reason, put together with the commercial competition point, it is an extremely good development to have an independent regulator for qualifications.