Disability: Black and Minority-ethnic Disabled People

Lord Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Excerpts

Tuesday 22nd May 2012 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Hanham]

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that. I cannot give an absolute commitment myself because this goes further than the Department for Communities and Local Government, but I will see who the right person would be and I am sure that I will be able to give a commitment on their behalf that that meeting will take place.

[The Lord Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich]

The Scope report highlights certain difficulties that migrants have in accessing services, with that of language among them. Are there any plans for the Government to review the provision of translation services through social services?

[Baroness Hanham]

My Lords, each local authority can decide what translation facilities it needs for its communities. Some require material to be published in their own language, but very many others just need to ensure that that material is available. It is, of course, necessary now for local authorities and health authorities to ensure that they have access to interpreting services as and when they need them.