18.—(1) In regulation 86(1) for “to the appropriate academic authority after a request for payment has been received which the Welsh Ministers consider to be a valid request.” subsitute the following—
“once they have received from the relevant academic authority—
a request for payment; and
confirmation of the eligible distance learning student’s attendance on the designated distance learning course.”.
(2) In regulation 86 after paragraph (3) insert—
“(4) In this regulation “confirmation of the eligible distance learning student’s attendance on the designated distance learning course” (“cadarnhad o bresenoldeb y myfyriwr dysgu o bell cymwys ar y cwrs dysgu o bell dynodedig”) means confirmation from the relevant academic authority that the eligible distance learning student—
(a)has enrolled on and started undertaking the designated distance learning course, where the confirmation relates to a payment of the entire grant in respect of fees or the first instalment of the grant in respect of fees; or
(b)remains enrolled and continues to undertake the designated distance learning course at the date of the confirmation, where the confirmation relates to an instalment of the grant in respect of fees other than the first instalment.
(5) Where an eligible distance learning student ceases to undertake a designated distance learning course during the academic year and the academic authority has determined or agreed that the student will not return during that academic year, the academic authority must inform the Welsh Ministers as soon as is practicable of the eligible distance learning student’s departure from the designated distance learning course.”.