Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (Interpreters)
– in the Scottish Parliament on 6th June 2018.
Pauline
McNeill Labour
7. To ask the Scottish Government what its position
is on recent changes to the terms and conditions of interpreters used by the
courts service. (S5O-02193)
Michael
Matheson Scottish National Party
The Scottish Government has a framework agreement
for interpreting, translation and transcription services, which is used by
Scottish public sector bodies, including the Scottish Courts and Tribunals
Service. There are two suppliers on the framework agreement. There have been no
recent changes to the framework terms and conditions. The Scottish Government
does not contract directly with individual interpreters. Any terms and
conditions of employment are a matter between the interpreter and the
contractor.
Pauline
McNeill Labour
Is the cabinet secretary aware that a group of
interpreters recently went on strike because of the imposition by Global
Connects of new terms and conditions, whereby payment for travel time was
removed? Does he not agree that there should be a public interest in the
matter, given that it is governed by his office? In circumstances in which
interpreters were not paid for travel time, they would, in effect, earn less
than the minimum wage. Is the cabinet secretary not concerned about the
possibility of interpreters who work in our courts—albeit that they are
self-employed—earning less than the minimum wage? Surely the issue deserves
scrutiny.
Michael
Matheson Scottish National Party
As I mentioned, Scottish Procurement is aware of
the fact that one of its suppliers recently changed its terms and conditions
for interpreters in relation to the allocation of work and the rates for travel
and expenses that it provides. The fixed rates in the framework agreement that
the Scottish Government has in place are inclusive of all hourly rates, travel
of up to 70 miles, expenses and management fees. At the tender stage, suppliers
are required to bid on the basis of the principles that are set out in the
framework agreement. It was for the bidders to decide, in their responses to
the tender, what fully inclusive fixed rates would be appropriate to cover
hourly travel rates, including travel of up to 70 miles, expenses and
management fees.
The Scottish Government does not contract directly
with interpreters. It is for the contractors to agree rates of pay with their
staff. However, if the member wants to write to me with more details on the
matter, given that it relates to the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, I
will ensure that the chief executive of that service responds to the concerns
that she has raised.
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