Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Garnier and Nicholas Dakin

Tuesday 22nd May 2012 Commons Chamber

[Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab)]

7. If he will assess the effect on the cost of prosecutions of delays caused by the absence of an interpreter.

[The Solicitor-General (Mr Edward Garnier)]

The CPS has no central records on the cost of court delays caused by the absence of an interpreter, but common sense tells me that such delays resulting from the absence of a necessary interpreter waste time and money.

[Nic Dakin]

Apparently, Jajo the rabbit is now a registered interpreter and translator. Does the Solicitor-General agree that that latest embarrassment illustrates the utter shambles that the contracting out of the interpreter and translator service has become?

[The Solicitor-General]

It was a joke and, even if it was not a joke, he has been deregistered.