October 3, 2016
Wolverhampton council pay out £630,000 for
private language interpreters and translators
The authority used
contractor The Big Word, which provides staff when they are needed in
children’s services and social services.
But the cost has been
criticised by a city councillor, who says recent immigrants should be
encouraged to learn English.
The cost comes as the
council faces huge cuts. It has been forced to make savings of £175 million
over the past six years and it is estimated another £54m still has to be found.
In 2014/15 translation and
interpreting services cost the council £193,093.88, in 2015/16 they cost
£320,890.87 and so far this year they have cost £117,044.80.
The total amount spent is
over £630,000. The council has said it is legally obliged to provide
translation services in certain circumstances.
Councillor Andrew Johnson,
cabinet member for resources, said: “We don’t routinely print documents in lots
of different languages, which is a common misconception.
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