Parliamentary Debate on 20.06.13

http://services.parliament.uk/calendar/#!/calendar/Commons/WestminsterHall/2013/6/20/events.html 

Thursday 20 June 2013 
Time: 1.30 pm – 3pm 
Westminster Hall
(i) Interpreting and translation services and the Applied Language Solutions contract, Sixth Report of the Justice Committee, HC 645, Session 2012-13, and the Government response 

Watch it here: http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=13326

Concerns over language impacts of legal aid changes

http://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/i/32684/ 
13 June 2013

Concerns over language impacts of legal aid changes
Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP, Elfyn Llwyd, has raised concerns over the impact proposed changes to legal aid will have on Welsh language provision. 
Mr Llwyd, who was consistently campaigned against the changes expressing particular concern for services in rural areas, warns that people’s fundamental right to receive legal aid through the medium of Welsh will be eroded as the Government removes the individual’s right to choose their legal representation. 
He added that the Justice Secretary, Chris Grayling, had admitted that his department had given very little consideration to the future of Welsh language provision, and that there’s a strong possibility that the changes fail to conform to the Welsh Language Act and are therefore illegal. 
Mr Llwyd said: “Access to justice should be a fundamental right for every citizen. “These reforms signal a government undermining this belief by forfeiting client choice in an attempt to keep costs down. 
“The legal aid system in the UK was established so as to help the most destitute."

No Bengali interpreter

http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/Chef-accused-phone/story-19271339-detail/story.html#axzz2WDq7gWSU 
June 13, 2013

[...] "Humayoune Elu, 36, of Duke Street, Chelmsford, first appeared in Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Monday but will have to return because he is awaiting assistance from a Bengalese [sic] speaking interpreter."

Death by dangerous driving case delayed due to lack of translator

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/garden-city-death-dangerous-driving-4293268 
11 Jun 2013

Death by dangerous driving case delayed due to lack of translator
The Lithuanian defendant has only a few words of English, but a translator did not turn up at today's hearing
A serious case of causing death by dangerous driving had to be adjourned because of a mix-up over a translator. 
A Lithuanian translator had been booked to attend a court at Mold on Tuesday for the first appearance of a driver charged in connection with a fatal road accident at the weekend. 
Flintshire magistrates’ court at Mold waited all morning for a translator to attend so that the case of Gytis Masiulis could be dealt with. 
His case was due to be sent to the crown court and the issue was bail was to be considered.
But this afternoon magistrates gave up and said they had no option but to put the case back until tomorrow when the defendant will appear at Wrexham. 
Defending solicitor Phillip Lloyd Jones said it was a “total nightmare”. 
His client only had a few words of English and he was anxious he should understand what was taking place. He said that fortunately another solicitor, Bethan Jones, had been able to help. Her husband employed a Lithuanian national who had agreed to help explain to the defendant what was going on. 
The court was cleared for a short time while Mrs Jones contacted her husband so his employee could speak by mobile phone to the defendant in the dock. 
When that was done, the court resumed and Masiulis was then remanded in custody for 24 hours. 
It is the latest in a series of complaints by courts in the recent past about the quality of the translation services provided to the courts in North Wales.

Shambolic proceedings in magistrates’ courts must be rectified

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/letters/10101488/Shambolic-proceedings-in-magistrates-courts-must-be-rectified.html 
6 Jun 2013 

SIR – The latest move by the Government to reduce legal aid costs, although admirable, is unlikely to succeed if the record of the Ministry of Justice is anything to go by. In early 2012, the ministry contracted out the provision of court interpreters to Applied Language Services, which were soon bought out by Capita. 
Those in the ministry ignored the advice given by a variety of professional bodies.
Subsequently, the contract was subject to two House of Commons select committee investigations. The chairman of one of the committees found that: “The Ministry of Justice’s handling of the outsourcing of court interpreting services has been nothing short of shambolic.”

Since the contract started, countless trials have had to be adjourned due to interpreters failing to attend. Despite protestations from judges, magistrates, barristers and court staff, the ministry continues with the contract. 
Nigel D Moore 
Devauden, Monmouthshire