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Courts: Sign Language

Asked by Matt VickersConservativeMinistry of JusticeTabled Answered 22 September 2025UIN 76851

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has considered setting national minimum standards for British Sign Language interpreter provision across all courts.

Answered by Sarah Sackman

The Ministry of Justice has set national minimum standards for British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter provision across courts through the Language Services Contract. All interpreters must be registered with a voluntary National Regulator for Language Service professionals, with the minimum qualification standard for court work being a Level 6 BSL qualification.

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