(1)Where, as a result of any visitor’s report or other information acquired by the Education Committee, the Committee is of the opinion—
(a)that a recognised qualification is no longer, or will no longer be, evidence of having reached the required standard of proficiency,
(b)that a proposed qualification which has yet to be granted, but which was recognised by virtue of section 14(2)(b), will not be evidence of having reached that standard, or
(c)that a condition for the continued recognition of a qualification (imposed under section 15(4)) has not been complied with,
it shall refer the matter to the General Council.
(2)If the General Council is satisfied that the circumstances of the case are as mentioned in subsection (1)(a), (b) or (c) it may, with the approval of the Privy Council, direct that the qualification is no longer to be a recognised qualification for the purposes of this Act.
(3)A direction under subsection (2) shall have effect from the date of the direction or from such later date as may be specified in the direction.
(4)In considering any matter referred to it under subsection (1), the General Council shall have regard to the information on which the Education Committee formed its opinion together with any other relevant information which the Council may have.
(5)When requesting the approval of the Privy Council for the purposes of subsection (2), the General Council shall make available to the Privy Council the information to which it had regard under subsection (4).
(6)The Privy Council shall have regard to the information made available to it under subsection (5) before deciding whether or not to give its approval.
(7)Where the recognition of any qualification is withdrawn under this section, the General Council shall use its best endeavours to secure that any person who is studying for that qualification at any place, at the time when recognition is withdrawn, is given the opportunity to study at that or any other place for a qualification which is recognised.
(8)The withdrawal under this section of recognition from any qualification shall not affect the entitlement of any person to be registered by reference to an award of that qualification made to him before the date on which the direction withdrawing recognition had effect.