§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the average fee paid(a) per day and (b) per hour by Crown courts to (i) interpreters utilised by Crown courts in general in the United Kingdom and (ii) interpreters utilised specifically by Crown courts in Wales to undertake interpretation from, and into, the Welsh language.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe amounts allowed to interpreters working in the Crown court in England and Wales are in general at the discretion of the court. Guidance is issued which recommends an allowance of £14 to £24 per hour, with a minimum allowance of three 855W hours for those employed regularly in this capacity. Thus the allowance for three hours is in the range of £42 to £72; or £70 to £120 for a full day.
The amounts payable to Welsh language interpreters in the Crown court in Wales are specified by the Lord Chancellor under section 3(1A) of the Welsh Courts Act 1942. At present the allowances are £50 for a half day and £100 for a full day, which may be increased to £60 and £120 respectively when significant travelling time has been involved.