MPs ask 17 questions probing ALS Contracts & the Olympics
Andy Slaughter and John Leech's written questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport and the State for Justice:
Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many court sessions were (a) delayed and (b) cancelled due to problems with the provision of translators by Applied Language Solutions in the latest period for which figures are available.
Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he made prior to initiation of the new contract of the ability of Applied Language Solutions to meet the needs of the courts service.
Mr John Leech (Manchester, Withington): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many interpreters on the National Register of Public Service Interpreters have worked for his Department under its framework agreement with Applied Language Solutions since August 2011.
Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what impact assessment was carried out before awarding a contract for outsourced translation support to Applied Language Solutions.
Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the contract for translation services for the Olympics with Applied Language Solutions (a) prior to and (b) after awarding the contract for court translation services to that company.
Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants have had with the European Commission on Directive 2010/64/EU; whether the United Kingdom has notified the European Commission of a wish to participate in the adoption and application of this Directive; when the UK plans to transpose the Directive fully; what assessment has been made of the compatability of the Framework Agreement on translation services with the Directive; and whether Applied Language Solutions will be bound by the Directive in its implementation of its contract for outsourced translation services.
Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he was made aware of problems with the provision of translators to the courts service by Applied Language Solutions; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether (a) he, (b) other Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department had any involvement in the acquisition of Applied Language Solutions by Capita; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether providers of interpretation and translation services to the courts are required to undertake Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks on their employees; and whether Applied Language Solutions undertakes CRB checks on its interpreters.
Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what long-term measures he plans to implement to ensure that Applied Language Solutions provide qualified interpreters to the courts service.
Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, what impact assessment was carried out before awarding a contract for outsourced translation support for the London 2012 Olympics to Applied Language Solutions.
Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, what is the monetary value of the contract for outsourced translation support for the London 2012 Olympics to Applied Language Solutions.
Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, how many person-hours of translation support the Department expects to require for the London 2012 Olympics with Applied Language Solutions.
Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, what discussions he had with Secretary of State for Justice on its contract for translation services for the Courts Service with Applied Language Solutions prior to and after awarding a contract for the Olympics.
Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with alternative providers of translation services on contingency provision for the London 2012 Olympics translation support to be provided by Applied Language Solutions; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, whether he plans to use his power under section 5 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to designate LOCOG as an organisation that appears to exercise functions of a public nature.
Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness and usability of his Department's contract with Applied Language Solutions for court translation services; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, what steps he has taken to make alternative arrangements for translation services for the London 2012 Olympics in the event that Applied Language Solutions fails to provide required services in accordance within its contract; and if he will make a statement.
