Lords Committee looks at quality assurance processes in the provision of interpreting and translation services
Tuesday 3 December 2024
Tomorrow, Wednesday 4 December, the House of Lords Public Services Committee will hear from a language service provider, The Language Shop (TLS), as it continues its inquiry into the provision of interpreting and translation services in courts. The session will seek to better understand the quality assurance process in the provision of these services; including how concerns about the quality of interpreting are addressed and challenges faced by service providers.
The session will start at 11.00am and can be watched live or on demand at Parliament TV or in person in Committee Room 4, Palace of Westminster.
Giving evidence will be:
- Sam Lingard, Director, TLS; and
- Jaiman Patel, Managing Director, TLS.
Questions will include:
- How would you respond to views that it may be challenging for the current quality assurance model to judge the quality of interpreting in some situations – such as whispered interpreting, or interpreting in closed settings or settings where proceedings are not recorded.
- How might the introduction of AI interpreting tools affect quality assurance? How are TLS currently considering the use of AI tools in interpreting more broadly?
- What data do you gather and pass on to the Ministry of Justice? What other information might be useful to capture?
- What is your view of the current quality of interpreting services offered in the courts?
- How are the assessors trained and supported to complete their work?
- What recommendations should the Committee make to the Government on how to improve interpreting and language services in the courts?