19 March 2013
Topical Questions
Oral Answers to Questions — Justice
Grahame
Morris (Easington,
Labour)
I thank
the Justice Secretary for his reply, but may I draw his attention to the Public
Accounts Committee’s damning report on the Ministry of Justice’s handling of
the court translators contract?
Again it
is a case of being penny wise and pound foolish. Two hundreds cases in England
and Wales had to be cancelled, costing the public purse millions of pounds.
Experienced and trained translators are still refusing to work with Capita,
which was awarded the contract. Will the Minister, as part of his action plan,
rescue our justice service and abandon this failed contract?
Helen
Grant (Maidstone
and The Weald, Conservative)
I hear
what the hon. Gentleman says, but we are working very closely with Capita. Our
success rate is good, but it can, of course, improve, and it will improve. The
British taxpayer will save some £15 million per annum as a result of this
contract, and I am fully convinced that the new contract will be more
accountable, transparent and effective than the old one.
Nick
Smith (Blaenau
Gwent, Labour)
The
failed contract with ALS/Capita is a year old. Does the Minister agree that her
claims of massive savings
cannot be
demonstrated, given that the Ministry refuses to publish details of how much is
spent off-contract to purchase interpreting services?
Helen
Grant (Maidstone
and The Weald, Conservative)
I think
that I have made the position clear, but I will repeat it. The contract is
operating at a very good success rate, but further improvements can be made.
Having worked as a solicitor in the old regime, I can say that it certainly was
not perfect. I am satisfied that the new regime will not only save the taxpayer
a considerable amount of money, but be more effective, transparent and
accountable than the old regime.
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