Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 26 June to Question 11236 on Department for Education: Translation Services, for what reason the spend increased in 2025/26.

The department’s spending on translation services in the 2025/26 financial year increased by £20,573.80 compared with the 2024/25 financial year. As outlined in the department’s response to Question 11236, the increase in expenditure predominantly relates to:

• £6,226.18 – translation of departmental safeguarding guidance for parents, relating to children in out-of-school settings.
• £4,100.54 – translation of consultation documents affecting disabled students, into British Sign Language.
• £9,120.00 – translation services provided for overseas delegates attending the UK-hosted Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Education summit.

There were no comparable, high-value translation activities undertaken by the department in 2024/25, where translation costs were £1,159.02 and related to:

• A ‘Childcare Choices’ leaflet.
• Kinship care.