12 November 2009
38.The Northern Ireland Assembly’s consent has been sought for the provisions in the Act that trigger the Sewel Convention. The effect of sections 130 and 132 is to give Ofqual a role in regulating certain vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland. By convention, Westminster will not normally legislate with regard to devolved matters in Northern Ireland without the consent of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
39.In addition, the Act re-states powers conferred by section 13 of the Further Education and Training Act 2007, which currently enables the Learning and Skills Council to make arrangements to provide services to the Northern Irish Executive. These powers will be replicated for both the Chief Executive of Skills Funding and the Young People’s Learning Agency for England, in sections 68, 70, 107 and 109. A legislative consent motion is not, however, required for this matter.