Criminal Justice: Interpretation and Translation Services

Lord Suri Excerpts

Wednesday 29th November 2017 Lords Chamber

[Lord Keen of Elie]

We have no proposals to alter the present system, which works effectively. I point out that there are around 500 to 550 bookings for interpreters each day, so the number he refers to—six—is a very small proportion of the overall interpretation service.

[Lord Suri (Con)]

My Lords, will we be able to see that justice is being done without providing proper translation services, either in criminal or other proceedings?

[Lord Keen of Elie]

It is clearly critical to the administration of justice and to the issue of access to justice that full and adequate interpretation services should be available to the courts and to those who have recourse to them.