43.The 2009 Act will give us the power to investigate, or make arrangements for the investigation of, complaints in relation to the award of qualifications.
44.We currently undertake the investigation of complaints in respect of a variety of matters relating to the award of qualifications. Certain complaints are investigated by the Examinations Appeals Board (EAB).
45.We propose that all complaints with which we are dealing and that are outstanding immediately before 1 April 2010 should remain under investigation either by us or under arrangements made by us.
46.The 2009 Act also gives us the power to arrange for the investigation of complaints by an independent party. We propose, in this connection, that for at least the initial period the EAB should continue to operate in its current form, within the same remit, from 1 April 2010 and that complaints already under investigation by the EAB should continue to be investigated by it but on our behalf. We plan to appoint the EAB as an independent party for investigating complaints under section 150(2) of the Act.
47.We propose to conduct a joint consultation with regulators in Wales and Northern Ireland about the arrangements for investigating complaints that should be put in place in the longer term, both in relation to those matters currently investigated by Ofqual itself and those currently investigated by the EAB.
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