PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Courts: Translation Services (24 October 2024)

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much was spent on (a) translation and (b) interpretation costs in (i) all courts and (ii) Great Yarmouth Magistrates court in each of the last five years.

Asked by:
Rupert Lowe (Restore Britain)

This question has been interpreted to mean spend for all language services, both translation and interpretation provided in a court setting, and for printed materials available in HMCTS buildings.

Information is not held disaggregated as (a) translation and (b) interpretation but has been provided in total.

The total spend by HMCTS on translation and interpretation in each of the last five financial years was:

Financial Year	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24
Total Cost	11,000,691	13,007,403	7,094,093	10,788,205	11,489,997	12,774,105

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.

It is vital that victims, witnesses and defendants understand what is happening in court to ensure justice is done, and we will always take steps to ensure a qualified interpreter is provided when needed.

The total spend by HMCTS on translation and interpretation for Great Yarmouth Magistrates Court in each of the last five financial years was:

Financial Year	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24
Total Cost	88	0	0	0	0	0

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.

Answered by:
Heidi Alexander (Labour)
31 October 2024