Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have a target figure for cost savings for the provision of court interpreters under the contract with <i>thebigword</i>; and if so, what is it, and against what baseline it is measured.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie - Shadow Minister (Justice)
The Ministry is committed to ensuring the justice system is supported by a range of quality language services that meet the needs of all those that require them.
All our new language service contracts contain robust performance and charging provisions which are designed to ensure the value for money and affordability of the services provided by the department's suppliers. However, we have not felt it appropriate to set a target figure for cost savings for the provision of court interpreters, which is a demand-led service, given the importance we attach to the provision of such support to those who most need it.
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to include interpreting in public services within the list of excepted professions in Schedule 1 to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie - Shadow Minister (Justice)
The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 lists areas of activity and proceedings which are exceptions to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA), meaning that the employer or other relevant body is entitled to ask for, and take into account, certain spent cautions and convictions (as well as unspent convictions).
For inclusion within the Exceptions Order, there has to be compelling evidence that there exists an exceptional reason for the disclosure of the spent caution or conviction. For example, where the role involves working with vulnerable people. For the ROA to continue to be effective in achieving its aims of improving access to employment and rehabilitation, exceptions to the Act should only be sought where there is good reason.
The exceptions take into account the role the person is carrying out and not necessarily the profession or job they do (unless it is proportionate to protect all roles in a job or profession). Interpreters in certain public service positions may already be included in the Exceptions Order, for example those working within prisons or those working in certain roles with children or vulnerable adults. It would not be appropriate or proportionate, however, to introduce a blanket provision to cover all such interpreters.
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, following the withdrawal of the UK from the EU, there will be a continued commitment to the right of interpretation services in the criminal justice system, on the same terms as currently guaranteed under the EU Directive on the right to interpretation and translation in criminal proceedings.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie - Shadow Minister (Justice)
As the Prime Minister has said we will not be providing a running commentary on the negotiations with regards to the UK’s decision to leave the EU.
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many court cases have had to be rescheduled in each of the last five years because of problems with the interpreting or translating services required; and what was the additional cost incurred in each year as a result of such rescheduling.
Answered by Lord Faulks
Information on the number of trials listed in the criminal courts which were adjourned (ineffective) due to interpreter availability is published in Criminal Court Statistics; the relevant extract is set out below.
| Crown Courts | Magistrates’ Courts | ||||
Year | Number of trials | Adjourned due to interpreter availability | % of trials adjourned due to interpreter availability | Number of trials | Adjourned due to interpreter availability | % of trials adjourned due to interpreter availability |
2011 | 41,412 | 17 | 0.0% | 166,808 | 327 | 0.2% |
2012 | 38,432 | 34 | 0.1% | 156,671 | 608 | 0.4% |
2013 | 33,669 | 37 | 0.1% | 155,087 | 591 | 0.4% |
2014 | 35,974 | 26 | 0.1% | 158,984 | 524 | 0.3% |
2015 | 39,036 | 23 | 0.1% | 162,668 | 474 | 0.3% |
Associated costs for rescheduling such cases are not recorded.
The department continues to monitor the language services contract closely and work with the supplier to further drive improvements and reduce the cost on the taxpayer.
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the compatibility of the current United Kingdom law with the European Union Directives on the right to information in criminal proceedings, and on the right to interpretation and translation in criminal proceedings.
Answered by Lord Faulks
The UK Government opted into these Directives, on 22 October 2010 and on 8 March 2010 respectively, and in transposing them into domestic law undertook careful analysis of the state of the existing law and whether any new measures were required to ensure compliance. As a result of this assessment, in England and Wales transposition included several new legislative measures, subsequently approved by Parliament, and the Devolved Administrations made similar arrangements. A full transposition table was provided to the European Commission as is normal practice. As with all Directives, the Government keeps compliance under review.
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to their response to the <i>Independent Review of Quality Arrangements under the MoJ Language Services</i><i>Framework Agreement</i>, published by Optimity Matrix in December 2014, what progress has been made in discussions with the National Register of Public Services Interpreters on the development of an independent regulatory framework.
Answered by Lord Faulks
This Government is committed to providing a standard of interpreter that meets the needs of those requiring support in the justice system.
Provision in interpretation and translation services across courts and tribunals is being explored in preparation for the end of the current contracts in October 2016. As part of this work, Ministry of Justice officials have met with representatives from a range of stakeholders, including the National Register of Public Service Interpreters.
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what the timetable and process will be for reviewing, publishing and awarding the contract for the provision of court interpreters, when the current contract expires at the end of 2016.
Answered by Lord Faulks
Provision of interpretation and translation services across courts and tribunals is being explored in preparation for the end of the current contracts in October 2016. A competition to retender the contract is expected to be launched in due course.