Translations do not help integration, warns Kelly
The Independent
By Andrew Grice
Published: 11 June 2007
The Government has called on local authorities to encourage immigrants to learn English instead of routinely translating documents into foreign languages. Ruth Kelly, the Communities Secretary, said translation had been used “too frequently” and could become a “crutch” which discouraged integration. The practice enabled new immigrants to avoid learning English when they first arrived - meaning they never did, she said. A report this week from the Commission on Integration and Cohesion, set up after the 7/7 bombings in London, is expected to address translation services. They are estimated to cost taxpayers more than £100m each year, with National Health Service trusts spending £55m, the courts £31m and councils £25m. Ms Kelly told BBC1’s The Politics Show yesterday that the commission would issue guidance to local authorities leading them away from “routine” translation. It would then only be used in appropriate situations, such as emergency services. She said: “I do think translation has been used too frequently and sometimes without thought to the consequences. So, for example, it’s quite possible for someone to come here from Pakistan or elsewhere in the world and find that materials are routinely translated into their mother tongue, and therefore not have the incentive to learn the language.” Ms Kelly added: “I think speaking the language is absolutely key. Something the commission looked at specifically is whether we should be translating from English into different languages as a matter of routine.” David Davis, the shadow Home Secretary, said: “This is an attempt, albeit overdue, to deal with a very real problem.” But Andrew Stunell, the Liberal Democrats’ communities spokesman, said: “This is another wild swing in the dark by Ruth Kelly. Her government has cut access to language classes but now wants to leave vulnerable members of ethnic minority communities - many of whom are women - cut off from mainstream society and public services.”
