Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the provision of British Sign Language interpreters for deaf jurors.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 placed the right to British Sign Language (BSL) interpreting in the jury deliberation room on a statutory footing (now section 9C of the Juries Act 1974). The Ministry of Justice is committed to ensuring the justice system is supported by a range of high-quality language services that meet the needs of all those that require them. Visual and tactile provisions, including sign language interpreters, are met and monitored through the Ministry of Justice's language services contract with Clarion Interpreting Ltd.

Whilst HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) does not record protected characteristics of jurors in respect of complaints, an interrogation of data held suggests that there have been two recorded complaints regarding interpreter provision for jury service support in the last five years. When concerns are raised, HMCTS addresses them at a local level and, where appropriate, escalates issues through established contract management processes and ongoing improvements in data quality and governance.

The quality of interpreting provided to the Department, including the management of its register of interpreters, is assured by an independent provider, The Language Shop (TLS). TLS undertakes a programme of assessments for interpreters, as well as an annual audit of supplier processes for onboarding new interpreters. These safeguards ensure the legal right is delivered in practice while maintaining the integrity of the jury room.