VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Courts: Translation Services

Asked by Lee AndersonReform UKMinistry of JusticeTabled Answered 21 November 2025UIN 91030

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what data his Department holds on the total cost of (a) translation and (b) interpretation services in the court system for each of the last five years.

Answered by Sarah Sackman

The information requested can be found in the tables below.

Translation:

FY

Translation

FY21-22

£ 51,231.54

FY22-23

£ 113,487.07

FY23-24

£ 140,829.23

FY24-25

£ 126,433.75

FY25-26

£ 78,995.19

Total

£ 510,976.78

Interpreting:

FY

Interpreting

FY21/22

£ 22,225,742.45

FY22/23

£ 27,362,968.49

FY23/24

£ 31,022,423.14

FY24/25

£ 32,390,150.55

FY25/26

£ 20,517,115.66

Total

£ 133,518,400.29

The Ministry of Justice has a statutory duty to provide Language Services to enable access to justice for users whom English is not their first language. Language Service needs and spend are assessed to ensure these services offer good value for money for taxpayers whilst maintaining high standards of service delivery.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim