Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order in Council)

This Order paves the way for the Scottish Ministers and a Minister of the Crown to enter into agency arrangements, under which a Minister of the Crown can exercise functions on behalf of the Scottish Ministers in relation to the recognition of non-UK and UK qualifications. Any such arrangements would be agreed between a Minister of the Crown and the Scottish Ministers.

The Order relates to the UK’s National Information Centre (UK ENIC) which is part of the European Network of National Information Centres.

The services to which the functions relate are provided in pursuance of international obligations. The international obligations are principally set out in two international agreements, namely: the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region, signed by the United Kingdom at Strasbourg on 7th November 1997 (Cmnd. 5577. United Nations Treaty Series, vol. 2136, p. 3), and the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education, signed by the United Kingdom at Paris on 25th November 2019 (Cmnd. 497. United Nations Treaty Series, registration number 57727).

Copies of the two international agreements that were in force immediately before this Order comes into force are published alongside this Order and copies can be obtained on request from the Department for Education, Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BT.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.