Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of awarding a pay rise to interpreters working for the Home Office.

Interpreters are not Home Office employees and undertake freelance work commissioned by the Home Office through contracts for services.

As with other requirements, the Home Office works with specialist suppliers to ensure contracted services are cost effective, and delivered to a high standard, with in-built quality measures. These contracts are regularly reviewed.

The Home Office keeps our costs under constant review, working alongside other government departments, suppliers and representation bodies to promote sustainable and affordable rates.