PQ: 31 July 2024

https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2024-07-22.HL217.h

HM Courts and Tribunals Service: Interpreters

Ministry of Justice written question – answered at on 31 July 2024.

Baroness Coussins Crossbench

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar on 12 January 2022 (HL Deb cols 1151–2), when the Ministry of Justice's independent review of the qualifications and experience required of spoken word interpreters in HM Courts and Tribunal Service will be completed, and when it will be published.

Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

We have been considering the findings of the independent review to help inform the development of new tender specifications. This is a complex process and covers a wide range of agencies within the Ministry of Justice. We will, of course, publish the outcome of the review once the tendering process is complete.

PQ: 29 July 2024

https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2024-07-18.HL123.h

HM Courts and Tribunals Service: Translation Services

Ministry of Justice written question – answered at 29 July 2024

Baroness Coussins Crossbench

To ask His Majesty’s Government when the invitation to tender for the next contract to provide spoken word translation and interpreting services for HM Courts and Tribunal Service will be issued.

Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice, Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Ministry of Justice’s invitation to tender for the new spoken word services contract is expected to be published in the autumn, subject to completion of approvals processes.

Language barriers getting between residents and police

https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/24475924.language-barriers-getting-residents-police/

26^th July 2024

Language barriers getting between residents and police

Warndon councillor Ed Kimberley said people who don’t speak English as a first language often struggle to get officers to follow up on their concerns.

West Mercia Police says its officers have access to interpreters via a mobile app called Language Line and are working on other ways to improve community relations. […]

“One of the big concerns that I’ve got after a month or two of getting to know them and getting to understand the problem is there are quite a lot of barriers between the communities, particularly people who don’t speak English as a first language and actually accessing police services.

“A lot of them, if they don’t speak English as a first language, and they’re being asked to put in reports to the police in written form, and a lot of the systems seem to be geared towards that, it is significantly more difficult for them to do so.

“My experience has been that the things that get followed up are the things that people can chase up a couple of times, which excludes groups like that.  […]