§ Mr. George Rodgersasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if it is the practice for disabled defendants appearing in court who require the services of a sign-language interpreter to be charged the costs of such a service;
(2) if he is aware that a person who is handicapped by deafness and a lack of speech has been ordered by the court at Chorley, Lancashire, to pay for the 99W services of a sign-language interpreter, when he appeared as a defendant ; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. Summerskill:Courts are empowered by section 17 of the Administration of Justice Act 1973 to pay interpreters for defendants in criminal proceedings from central funds where the interpreter is required because of the defendant's lack of English. I do not know what the general practice is where the defendant is deaf and dumb, but the Department is prepared to meet such expenditure where the section otherwise applies.
I have made inquiries of the court at Chorley and have been informed of the case which I believe my hon. Friend has in mind. Arrangements will be made for the expenditure on the interpreter to be met from central Government funds.