Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will ensure the local provision of Welsh language transcription services in Wales once contracts have been awarded under the Framework and Contracts for the Provision of Transcription Services for Court Reporting and Transcription Services OJEU Prior Information Notice (ref: 2016/S 155-281276) tender.

The detailed service specifications developed by Her Majesty’s Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) for the future provision of court transcription services include a requirement to comply with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Welsh Language Scheme.

As part of the tender evaluation process all bidders were required to demonstrate their understanding of the Welsh Language Act and their approach to incorporating the Welsh language requirements into their service model whilst maintaining specified quality and timeliness standards.

Whilst it is for individual suppliers to determine their approach to delivering Welsh language services, all service providers will therefore be required to maintain the ability to deliver legal verbatim transcripts of hearings conducted in the Welsh language, at no additional cost to users, and have access to Welsh speaking staff with the appropriate security clearances as required.