§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial and organisational arrangements have been made by his Department to provide courses for bilingual interpreters in Welsh and English to work in magistrates' courts in Wales.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many courts in Wales are equipped with facilities for simultaneous translation; and how many translators have been instructed in the technique of simultaneous translation.
§ Mr. JohnI understand from my right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Chancellor that the Crown court centres at Cardiff and Mold have facilities for simultaneous translations and that equipment is being installed at Carmarthen and is to be installed at Caernarfon. The Crown court has a panel of up to 12 interpreters who attend courses about once a year. These courses are presided over by a circuit judge experienced in the Welsh language.
In magistrates' courts, simultaneous translation facilities are not provided. I do not think that they are needed, since it is generally possible for proceedings there to be conducted in Welsh, with translation into English where required.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the provision of translators in courts in Wales.
§ Mr. JohnNeither my right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Chancellor nor my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is aware of any particular problems in this field.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) full-time, and (b) part-time translators serve in magistrates' courts in Wales; and what is the breakdown of figures by county.
§ Mr. JohnThis information is not available centrally because the provision 165W of translators in magistrates' courts is a matter for local arrangements.