5 Mar 2012
Translation Services
Justice
Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice
(1) whether his Department has requested the courts to compile lists of interpreters who will or will not work outside the Applied Language Solutions framework agreement; and for what purpose any such lists have been compiled;
(2) pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 5 July 2011, Official Report, columns 86-7WS, on interpretation and translation services, how the estimate of £18 million savings from his Department's adoption of the framework agreement on translation services was reached.
Crispin Blunt (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Prisons and Probation), Justice; Reigate, Conservative)
The information is as follows:
(1) Courts have not been asked to compile lists of interpreters who will or will not work outside the Ministry's Framework Agreement with Applied Language Solutions.
(2) I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to this question on 28 February 2012, Hansard, column 190W.
5 Mar 2012
Magistrates: Translation Services
Justice
Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice
(1) whether his Department has prepared contingency plans in the event that Applied Language Solutions is unable to deliver the contract for the provision of translation services in courts;
(2) what steps (a) he and (b) his Department is taking in respect of the delivery of the contract for translation services by Applied Language Solutions.
Crispin Blunt (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Prisons and Probation), Justice; Reigate, Conservative)
Once fully embedded the new arrangements for interpreters will provide better value for money for the public and will meet the needs of the justice system. Close monitoring of the national roll-out has ensured that an action plan to address the problems was in place within two weeks of the new interpreter service commencing on a national basis. Contingency arrangements to minimise the chance of disruption to court business are already in place.
The contractor, Applied Language Solutions, is taking urgent action including providing additional staff to deal with bookings, further targeted recruitment of interpreters in key languages, some increases to payments for interpreters and improvements to the call handling and complaints process. Officials are meeting regularly with ALS to monitor the situation, and Ministers are receiving regular reports.
5 Mar 2012
Magistrates: Translation Services
Justice
Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice
(1) what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with (i) magistrates and (ii) members of the judiciary in England and Wales concerning Applied Language Solutions and the delivery of the contract for translation services;
(2) what representations he has received from (a) magistrates and (b) members of the judiciary in England and Wales concerning (i) Applied Language Solutions and (ii) the provision of interpreters in the Crown and magistrates' courts;
(3) what information (a) his Department and (b) HM Courts and Tribunals Service collects on the provision of interpretation services in courts; for what purposes; if he will place copies of such information in the Library; and if he will make a statement.
Jonathan Djanogly (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (HM Courts Service and Legal Aid), Justice; Huntingdon, Conservative)
The Ministry of Justice sought the views of a variety of key interested parties including the judiciary in developing the new arrangements for sourcing interpreters. Courts and Tribunals staff are in daily contact with members of the judiciary regarding the level of service provided since the contract commenced.
As part of their contractual obligations under the framework the contractor is required to provide a range of information about the performance of the contract. The Ministry will consider what information it can usefully publish in due course.
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