News In Focus
5 January 2009
Costs of translation services rise
Rising numbers of foreign workers in Scotland have contributed to a big increase in the cost of translation services in Scottish courtrooms, according to an article in the Press & Journal today.
The figure spent on interpreters has increased threefold – from £198,896 in 2003-04 to £826,728 in the last financial year. More than a third of the money has been spent in courts in the north and north east of Scotland. The figures also include hiring sign language interpreters for English-speaking deaf people.
Under article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, everyone charged with a criminal offence has the right to free assistance from an interpreter if they cannot understand what is going on in the court.