The Individual Learning Account (Scotland) Regulations 2011
Citation, commencement and interpretation1.
(1)
These Regulations may be cited as the Individual Learning Account (Scotland) Regulations 2011 and come into force on 1st April 2011.
(2)
In these Regulations—
“Account Holder’s Year” means the period commencing upon the date on which the F1Training Account is opened, and expiring on the first day of the same month in the following year, and each subsequent period of 12 months;
“the Act” means the Education and Training (Scotland) Act 2000;
F2“Approved Training” has the meaning given by regulation 10(1);
F3“ITA Scotland” means the arrangements specified in regulation 2;
F4...
F4...
F4...
F4...
F4...
F4...
“Operational Rules” means those rules, compliance with which shall be terms of payment of grants under the Scheme, as such rules are determined by the Scottish Ministers from time to time in accordance with section 1(2)(c) of the Act and notified to F5Training Providers by the Scottish Ministers;
“Qualifying Arrangements” means the arrangements which qualify under section 2 of the Act by virtue of regulation 2;
“Scheme” means the F12Training Account scheme established under these Regulations;
F13“Training Account” means an account opened and maintained by the Scottish Ministers in the name of the Training Account Holder which records the amount of grant available to be credited in the Account Holder’s Year;
“Training Account Administrator” means a person or body which has been designated by the Scottish Ministers in terms of section 1(4) and (5) of the Act where that designated status has not been withdrawn;
“Training Account Holder” means a person who is party to Qualifying Arrangements;
“Training Provider” means a person or body which is a Qualifying Person as specified in regulation 5 and which provides Approved Training;
“Training Provider Agreement” means the formal agreement to be entered into between the Training Account Administrator and the Training Provider specifying the obligations of the parties, including the maintenance of the Quality Standards;
“Training Provider Payment Agreement” means the formal agreement to be entered into between the Scottish Ministers and the Training Provider specifying the obligations of the parties as regards the application for, and payment of, grants; and
“Turkish Worker” means a Turkish national who is ordinarily resident in Scotland and is, or has been, lawfully employed in the United Kingdom.
F14Qualifying arrangements (Training Account Holders)2.
For the purposes of section 2 of the Act, arrangements qualify under that section if—
(a)
they take the form of registration by a Qualifying Person, as a F15Training Account Holder, with the Scottish Ministers in accordance with regulation 4; and
(b)
the registration has not been cancelled or withdrawn in accordance with regulation 4(6) to (8).
F16Qualifying persons (Training Account Holders)3.
(1)
A F17Training Account Holder is a Qualifying Person for the purposes of entering F18ITA Scotland if—
(a)
the person has registered with the Scottish Ministers under regulation 4; and
(2)
The condition in this paragraph is that the person has attained the age of 16.
(3)
The condition in this paragraph is that the person—
(a)
is a British citizen;
(b)
(c)
is a refugee, ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom who has not ceased to be so resident since that person was recognised as a refugee;
(d)
is a person who—
(i)
has been informed by a person acting under the authority of the Secretary of State for the Home Department that, although that person is considered not to qualify for recognition as a refugee, it is thought right to allow that person to remain in the United Kingdom;
(ii)
has been granted leave to enter or remain accordingly; and
(iii)
has been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom throughout the period since that person was granted leave to enter or remain;
(e)
is a person not falling within paragraphs (a) to (d) but is a national of a member state of the European Economic Area;
(f)
is a person not falling within paragraphs (a) to (d) but is a national of Switzerland and who is entitled to become a F23Training Account Holder by virtue of Article 3(6) or Article 9(3) of Annex I to the Switzerland Agreement; or
(g)
is the child of a Turkish Worker F24; or
(h)
is a person not falling within sub-paragraphs (a) to (g) but—
(i)
is under the age of 18 and has lived in the United Kingdom throughout the seven-year period preceding the date of registration; or
(ii)
is aged 18 years old or above and, preceding the date of registration, has lived in the United Kingdom throughout either half of his or her life or a period of twenty years.
(4)
The condition in this paragraph is that the person is either—
(a)
resident in Scotland; or
(b)
subject to subsection (5), temporarily resident outside Scotland but ordinarily resident in Scotland.
(5)
For the purposes of paragraph (4)(b) the residence of a member of the naval, military or air force of the Crown (“a member of the armed forces”) is to be determined as follows:—
(a)
unless sub-paragraph (b) applies, a member of the armed forces must be treated as being resident at the establishment where that member is for the time being serving; and
(b)
where the member of the armed forces is serving at an establishment outside the United Kingdom, that member must be treated as being resident at the establishment in the United Kingdom where that member most recently served, disregarding any establishment at which that member served for a period of less than one month.
F25(5A)
The condition in this paragraph is that the person is not undertaking secondary education within the meaning of section 135(2)(b) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.
F26(5B)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(5C)
The condition in this paragraph is that the person is not undertaking—
(a)
a course of further education (that is to say education provided by means of a course of any description mentioned in section 6(1) of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992); or
(b)
a course of higher education (that is to say education provided by means of a course of any description mentioned in section 38(2) of that Act).
(5D)
The condition in this paragraph is that the person is not participating in a F27... training programme secured by The Skills Development Scotland Co. Limited.
F28(5E)
The condition in this paragraph is that the person is not participating in the training programme known as Community Jobs Scotland established pursuant to arrangements made by the Scottish Ministers under section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973.
(6)
The condition in this paragraph is that the person is either—
(a)
a person with a gross income from earnings and pension income not exceeding £22,000 in the Account Holder’s Year; or
(b)
a person in receipt of any one of the following:—
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
F29(iiia)
carer support payment F30component of Carer Support payable under the Carer’s Assistance (Carer Support Payment) (Scotland) Regulations 2023;
(iv)
(v)
(viii)
universal credit payable under Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012.
F33(6A)
The condition in this paragraph is that the person is in employment or actively seeking employment.
(7)
For the purposes of paragraph (6)—
(a)
a person’s gross income from earnings includes the amount of income tax and social security contributions payable in respect of it;
(b)
(c)
F34Registration (Training Account Holders)4.
(1)
An application for registration as a F35Training Account Holder must be made in such form and in such manner as the Scottish Ministers may, from time to time, determine and different forms of application may be determined for renewal of applications.
(2)
(3)
An application for registration as a F38Training Account Holder must be made in respect of the period from the date of registration for one Account Holder’s Year only, but upon expiry of the Account Holder’s Year, a further application for such registration may be made for the following Account Holder’s Year, and so on for successive Account Holder’s Years.
(4)
The Scottish Ministers may require an applicant for registration as a F39Training Account Holder to provide such information or documents as the Scottish Ministers may require, in order for the Scottish Ministers to determine whether the person is eligible to become a F39Training Account Holder, and may decline to accept an application for registration unless such information or documents are provided.
(5)
A registered F40Training Account Holder may, from time to time, be required to provide to a F41Training Account Administrator such information, details and documents as may be required for the purpose of assessing the quality and effectiveness of the F42Approved Training in respect of which a grant has been paid.
(6)
The Scottish Ministers may at any time cancel the registration of a F43Training Account Holder if—
(a)
(b)
it appears to the Scottish Ministers that any information provided under paragraphs (1) to (5) by or on behalf of the F43Training Account Holder was false, or if the F43Training Account Holder has failed to provide any other information or documents which were requested by the F48Training Account Administrator under paragraph (5); or
(7)
(8)
(9)
While a person is a party to Qualifying Arrangements, that person may not become a party to other Qualifying Arrangements and any subsequent registration with the Scottish Ministers is of no effect.
(10)
A F54Training Account Holder must as soon as reasonably practicable notify the Scottish Ministers of any change of circumstances which may affect his or her status as a Qualifying Person.
F55Qualifying Persons (Training Providers)5.
In relation to qualification as a F56Training Provider, subject to regulation 7, a person or body shall be a qualifying person if—
(a)
that person or body has registered with a F57Training Account Administrator in terms of regulation 6; and
(b)
that registration has not been suspended, withdrawn or cancelled.
F58Registration (Training Providers)6.
(1)
(2)
A F61Training Account Administrator may require an applicant for registration as a F62Training Provider to provide such information or documents as the F61Training Account Administrator may require to enable it to determine whether the applicant is suitable to become a F62Training Provider for the purposes of the Scheme and the F61Training Account Administrator may decline to accept an application for registration unless such information and documents are provided.
(3)
A F63Training Account Administrator may grant an application for registration as F64a Training Provider only if—
(a)
(4)
Where an application for registration has been granted, the F67Training Account Administrator must notify the Scottish Ministers of that fact in such a manner as the Scottish Ministers may, from time to time, determine.
F68(5)
During the operation of the Scheme, a Training Account Administrator must monitor and assess a Training Provider’s compliance with the Quality Standards.
(6)
A Training Account Administrator may require a Training Provider to—
(a)
immediately inform the Training Account Administrator where the Training Provider becomes aware that it is not complying with the Quality Standards; and
(b)
provide such information and documents and at such intervals as the Training Account Administrator requires in order to enable the Training Account Administrator to assess the Training Provider’s compliance with the Quality Standards.
F69Suspension, cancellation and withdrawal of registration (Training Providers)7.
(1)
The F70Training Account Administrator may suspend or cancel the registration of F71a Training Provider in the event that—
F72(za)
the Training Account Administrator considers that the Training Provider has failed to comply with the Training Account Administrator’s requirements under regulation 6(6);
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
in respect of F73the Training Provider—
(i)
an administration order is made;
(ii)
a voluntary arrangement is proposed;
(iii)
a resolution is passed or an order made for its winding up (other than a resolution or a members’ voluntary winding up for the purpose of reconstruction in terms approved by the Scottish Ministers);
(iv)
a receiver, administrative receiver or liquidator is appointed over the whole or any part of its undertaking or assets; or
(f)
(2)
In the event that a F76Training Provider’s registration is suspended—
(a)
the F77Training Account Administrator must advise the Scottish Ministers of that fact; and
(b)
the suspension continues until the F77Training Account Administrator is satisfied that the default situation in question has been rectified.
(3)
(4)
(5)
Review8.
(1)
Where F84a Training Provider is aggrieved by a decision of the F85Training Account Administrator to suspend or cancel the F86Training Provider’s registration, F87that Training Provider may, within 21 days of the date that F88the Training Provider is notified of that decision, request that the decision be reviewed.
(2)
Where a F89Training Provider has submitted a request for the review of a decision of the F90Training Account Administrator, that decision must be reviewed in accordance with the F91ITA Scotland review process applying at the time of the request for the review, such review process for F92Training Providers to be published by the Scottish Ministers.
F93Grants in respect of Training Account Holders9.
(1)
Grants may be paid, in accordance with regulations 11 and 12, in respect of F94Training Account Holders in connection with F95Approved Training where the F96Training Account Holder at the time of payment of the grant is not eligible for any scholarship, grant or other allowance paid out of public funds in respect of that part of the cost of the F97... training in question to be paid from F98Training Account funds, and that F97... training constitutes F95Approved Training.
(2)
(3)
Where a person—
(a)
is a party to Qualifying Arrangements; and
(b)
a grant is not payable in respect of the Qualifying Arrangements in relation to any period of time where a grant is payable in respect of such an account.
F100Training for which grants can be paid10.
(1)
“Approved Training” means any form of training which—
(a)
has been approved by a Training Account Administrator; and
(b)
is provided by a Training Provider that has been registered by a Training Account Administrator for the purposes of regulation 6 and that registration has not been suspended, withdrawn or cancelled.
(2)
A Training Account Administrator may only approve a form of training for the purposes of paragraph (1)(a) if it is satisfied that—
(a)
the purpose of the training is to equip a person undertaking the training for employment; and
(b)
it is not a form of training which the Scottish Ministers have determined is excluded from being approved by a Training Account Administrator.
Amount of grant11.
(1)
The Scottish Ministers may determine, from time to time, the amount of grant for which a F101Training Account Holder is eligible in an Account Holder’s Year, it being a requirement however that the F101Training Account Holder has first paid, or secured the making of payment, to the F102Training Provider (and not received by way of discount or vouchers) the amount of the balance, after deducting the applicable grant allowed, towards the cost of the F103Approved Training.
(2)
The amount of grant may vary depending upon—
(3)
The costs of F106Approved Training which are eligible for grant in accordance with paragraph (1) are the direct costs of the F106Approved Training, including course registration, assessment fees, qualification and examination fees, the provision of professional advice and guidance, or such other costs as may be determined by the Scottish Ministers.
F107(4)
A Training Account Holder may only receive one award of grant in each Account Holder’s Year.
Grant: supplementary provision12.
(1)
Grants are to be paid at such times and in such instalments as the Scottish Ministers may determine.
(2)
(3)
Grants are to be paid on such terms as the Scottish Ministers may determine which may include terms requiring repayment of the whole or part of the grant—
(a)
by the F112Training Provider if—
(i)
the F113Approved Training in question is not provided;
(iii)
any other terms on which the grant was paid are not complied with; or
(iv)
any funds have been paid to the F112Training Provider in error; or
(b)
by the F114Training Account Holder if—
(i)
his or her registration is cancelled or at the time of payment of the grant the registration is capable of being cancelled in accordance with regulation 4(6);
(ii)
(iii)
the condition contained in regulation 9(1) was not satisfied at the time of payment of the grant; or
(iv)
any funds have been paid to the F114Training Account Holder in error.
F119(4)
For the purposes of paragraph (3)(a)(ii) the Approved Training is deemed to have commenced on the date on which the Training Account Holder first attends to receive the training concerned or, if attendance is not necessary for the commencement of the training, on the date on which the Training Account Holder first receives any training instructions or materials.
(5)
Without prejudice to paragraph (3) above, no grant is to be paid to F120a Training Provider unless the Scottish Ministers are satisfied that—
(a)
in respect of each claim submitted for learning account funds, F121the Training Provider has complied with the Operational Rules, applicable at the time each claim is submitted;
(b)
(6)
The Scottish Ministers may vary, supplement, replace or otherwise amend the Operational Rules from time to time and must notify any such changes to the F124Training Account Administrator.
(7)
(8)
It shall be a condition of the payment of all grants that F127Training Providers comply at all times with the Operational Rules as they apply from time to time.
Suspension or termination of the Scheme13.
The Scheme may be suspended or terminated upon Scottish Ministers giving written notice to that effect to Learning Account Holders and Learning Providers.
Savings provisions14.
Revocations15.
The Regulations specified in the Schedule to these Regulations are revoked.
St Andrew’s House,
Edinburgh
SCHEDULEREVOCATIONS
Regulations revoked | References |
|---|---|
The Individual Learning Account (Scotland) Regulations 2004 | |
The Individual Learning Account (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2004 | |
The Education (Graduate Endowment, Student Fees and Support) Switzerland (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2004 (so far as not already revoked)22 | |
The Individual Learning Account (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2007 | |
The Individual Learning Account (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2008 | |
The Individual Learning Account (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2008 | |
The Individual Learning Account (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2009 |
These Regulations consolidate the provisions of the Individual Learning Account (Scotland) Regulations 2004 and certain amending instruments. In addition to minor and drafting alterations, these Regulations now confer eligibility for an individual learning account on the children of Turkish workers (regulation 3(3)(g)).
They define “arrangements” which qualify under section 2 of the Education and Training (Scotland) Act 2000 (“the Act”). They provide for payment of grants in respect of persons who are parties to such qualifying arrangements (those persons being defined in these Regulations as “Learning Account Holders”). They also set out the qualifying requirements in regard to persons or bodies providing education or training under the Regulations (those persons being defined in the Regulations as “Learning Providers”).
Regulations 2 to 4 deal with qualifying arrangements for, and registration of, Learning Account Holders. The arrangements take the form of registration by a qualifying person (defined in regulation 3) with a body approved by the Scottish Ministers (referred to in these Regulations as a “Learning Account Administrator”). The qualifying arrangements are identified as “ILA Scotland”. Regulation 4 deals with general matters in connection with registration of Learning Account Holders.
Regulations 5 and 6 deal with qualifying arrangements for, and registration of, Learning Providers.
Regulation 5 sets out the general requirements for qualification as a Learning Provider.
Regulation 6 sets out requirements in relation to the registration of a Learning Provider, including that the Learning Account Administrator may grant an application for registration as a Learning Provider only if the applicant is suitable to deliver education and training in conformity with the Quality Standards (as defined in regulation 1(2)) of the ILA Scotland scheme, and that the applicant has delivered a validly executed Learning Provider Registration Agreement (as defined in regulation 1(2)) to the Learning Account Administrator.
Regulation 7 provides that the Learning Account Administrator may suspend or cancel the registration of a Learning Provider in certain defined circumstances, and that the Learning Provider may withdraw its registration upon at least 3 months’ prior notice. The provisions for suspension or cancellation include where the Learning Provider has failed to comply with either the Quality Standards of the learning account scheme, or the Operational Rules of the scheme (as defined in regulation 1(2)), or where the Learning Provider has breached any of the terms of the ancillary documentation (the Learning Provider Registration Agreement and the Learning Provider Payment Agreement and as defined in regulation 1(2)) that it requires to enter in relation to the learning account scheme.
Regulation 8 provides for the ability of the Learning Provider to request a review by the Scottish Ministers of a decision of the Learning Account Administrator to suspend or cancel the Learning Provider’s registration.
Regulations 9 to 12 provide for the conditions of payment of grants in respect of Learning Account Holders. Regulation 9 provides for the power to pay grants, and imposes restrictions on entitlement to receive grant. Regulation 10 provides for the kind of education or training (defined in these Regulations as “Approved Learning”) in respect of which grant is payable. Regulation 11 provides for requirements in relation to the amount of grant payable under the learning account scheme. These include that the amount shall be from time to time determined by the Scottish Ministers, and that the amount may vary depending on the kind of Approved Learning undertaken by the Learning Account Holder and the amount of time spent by the Learning Account Holder in the Approved Learning. Regulation 12 contains various supplementary provisions including provision for the grant to be paid on such terms as the Scottish Ministers may determine, and provision for payment of grants to the person providing the education or training. Provision is also made for grant to be repaid in specified circumstances, by the person providing the education or training, or by the Learning Account Holder.
Regulation 13 provides for suspension or termination of the learning account scheme by the Scottish Ministers.
Regulation 14 makes savings provisions in relation to payments due under the Individual Learning Account (Scotland) Regulations 2004.
Regulation 15 revokes the Individual Learning Account (Scotland) Regulations 2004, together with , the Individual Learning Account (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2004, the Education (Graduate Endowment, Student Fees and Support) Switzerland (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2004 (so far as not already revoked), the Individual Learning Account (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2007, the Individual Learning Account (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2008, the Individual Learning Account (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2008 and the Individual Learning Account (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2009.