Home Affairs Committee
Interpreting Services For Asylum Seekers
I am Suzanne Fletcher MBE, and a Trustee of Everyday Language Solutions. This submission is about the importance of interpreting services for asylum seekers commissioned by the public sector being of the quality necessary to ensure access to justice, health, and other essential services.
Everyday Language Solutions Ltd (ELS)282 is a registered charity, and not-for-profit organisation that provides a comprehensive range of premium quality interpretation and translation services to the North East community and beyond, giving cost effective advice. As a registered charity their aim is to support the promotion of good race relations and the elimination of discrimination through more effective communication.
1. There are those who are seeking sanctuary in the UK, and not being able to speak our language yet, or not able to use English in a setting where precision of wording is very important. It is crucial that they have interpreters that accurately convey the information that they need to, in situations such as them needing medical care, or explain their case to officials working for the Home Office, or in the judicial system. It is equally important that they fully understand information and questions directed to them. Only by proper communication can there be outcomes of justice, health, and wellbeing.
2. Standards of language interpreting need to meet a consistently high standard. ELS produced a commissioning guide “A practical guide to commissioning Face to Face Interpreting Service”, by Wendy Lillie on October 2011. Whilst not yet available electronically it will be shortly, and please contact myself or ELS directly if a copy is needed. There is a short presentation of this work available on the Race Equality website283.
3. The booklet clearly states the minimum standards of an interpreting service, covering standards, service delivery, and added value. Also how standards are assessed and monitored.
I ask that the Home Affairs Select Committee recommends that all publicly funded contracts for interpreting services for asylum seekers uses this guide when commissioning services.
Everyday Language Solutions
April 2013