EU: Interpretation and Translation in Criminal Proceedings

Baroness Sharples Excerpts

Monday 9th July 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord McNally]

I do not agree with that. As I said, there were problems at the beginning of this contract but the performance has improved dramatically. I presume that the original estimate of a £12 million saving in this first year will probably not be achieved. That is common sense but this is not a solution for just this year. It is a long-term solution that we hope will, once it is bedded down, give the service and quality required.

[Baroness Sharples]

Can my noble friend say how many languages each interpreter is expected to speak?

[Lord McNally]

No. However, there are a number of interpreters who speak more than one language. At the moment, there are about 1,500 interpreters under contract and they are equivalent to about 3,000 interpreter persons, which means that many of them speak two or more languages.