Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Oral Answers to Questions

Steve Brine Excerpts
Tuesday 15th February 2011

(13 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Steve Brine Portrait Mr Steve Brine (Winchester) (Con)
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9. What assessment he has made of the adequacy of provision of language translation support for foreign national prisoners.

Crispin Blunt Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Mr Crispin Blunt)
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Translation and interpretation services are provided locally through central contracts. It is for the local prison authorities to determine the extent to which translation services are needed on a case-by-case basis.

Steve Brine Portrait Mr Brine
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Foreign national prisoners constitute about 15% of the total inmate population at HMP Winchester. A constituent of mine who is a member of the local monitoring board has raised concerns with me about the language translation support made available to foreign inmates there, particularly where deportation documents are issued. Does the Minister agree that putting in place efficient translation measures would help to improve the speed and efficiency with which inmates who have served their sentences and are awaiting deportation from our country are moved through the system?

Crispin Blunt Portrait Mr Blunt
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I certainly would agree. We want to make it clear that we want absolutely no administrative hurdles put in the way of deporting foreign national prisoners back to where they belong.