Social Security and Child Support Tribunal: Interpreters

(asked on 19th May 2025) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what was the total cost to the Courts and Tribunal Service of the provision of language interpreters whose first language was not English in (1) 2020–21, (2) 2021–22, (3) 2022–23, and (4) 2023–24.


Answered by
Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede Portrait
Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
This question was answered on 3rd June 2025

The total spend by HM Courts and Tribunals Service on translation and interpretation in each of the last four financial years was:

Financial Year

Spend (£)

2020-21

7,094,093

2021-22

10,788,205

2022-23

11,489,997

2023-24

12,774,105

HMCTS does not hold expenditure information disaggregated to a) translation, and b) interpretation, so the total expenditure has been provided.

These figures include cover expenditure on the interpretation of official languages of the United Kingdom, including Welsh, as well as to provide equality for those with conditions that can be defined as a disability under the Equality Act, such as sign language interpretation.

These figures do not include any translation or interpretation spend covered by Legal Aid Agency central funds as these are not included in the accounts for HM Courts and Tribunals Service.

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