https://www.ein.org.uk/news/ministry-justice-confirms-new-court-interpreting-contracts-october-2026
26 January 2026
In a letter last week to the House of Lords Public Services Committee, the Minister for Courts and Legal Services, Sarah Sackman KC MP, said the procurement process had concluded. The minister said the new contracts are intended to address issues identified by the Committee in its earlier scrutiny of interpreting services.
Under the new arrangements, thebigword has been awarded the contract for primary spoken language services and will continue as the incumbent provider, while Translate UK has been appointed as the secondary spoken language services supplier. Clarion UK will continue to provide visual and tactile services, and The Language Shop has been reappointed as the quality and assurance provider.
The minister said the contracts include enhanced performance monitoring and requirements for suppliers to collaborate on the development of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, in line with the Ministry of Justice's AI Action Plan for Justice. The new contracting model introduces a primary and secondary supplier structure for spoken language services, intended to improve the availability of interpreters, including for short-notice bookings.
The letter also sets out changes to interpreter qualifications, quality assurance processes, welfare provisions and remuneration, including expanded trainee schemes, strengthened safeguarding arrangements, and CPI-linked annual increases in pay. The MoJ said it is now entering the implementation phase and will continue to engage with the judiciary, legal professionals and interpreter organisations ahead of the October 2026 start date.
https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/51244/documents/284478/default/
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