Translation budget cut

Friday December 7, 2007 Guardian Unlimited Louise Radnofsky Councils and public bodies will be told to stop translating non-essential documents and signs to encourage immigrants to learn English in new guidance published today. Making the announcement, Hazel Blears, the communities and local government secretary, said that too much translation was a disincentive to learning English and was undermining integration. "Speaking English is the greatest asset you can possess to get a better job, get involved in your community, and to get on and do well for yourself and your family," she said in a statement introducing the guidelines. Translation can never be a substitute for learning English and we need a fundamental rebalancing of our approach putting a greater focus on learning English." "Automatic translation of all public materials can just reinforce the language barrier, act as a brake on opportunity and make it harder to integrate non-English speaking residents into the country." Translation should only be carried out where it is absolutely necessary and there is a proven need, according to the guidelines. The new rules are being sent to all councils as well as the NHS, police, courts and government departments. The communities and local government department said that there had been examples of councils routinely translating documents into languages that were not spoken in their region, and that there was no legal duty under the Race Relations Amendment Act of 2000 that required them to translate all materials. Councils will also be told to let community partners provide information rather than translating it themselves, and to promote English when carrying out essential translation by using pictures and symbols with English alongside them, or bilingual translation. The move was welcomed by the chief executive of Ealing Borough Council, Darra Singh, who chaired the former Commission on Integration and Cohesion. The commission recommended less translation earlier this year. Singh said the move was "the right thing to do". "This is the green light from the government to local councils and public bodies to use translation only where it is essential," he said. But the cross-party Local Government Association criticised the government for cuts in funding for English lessons. "While translation has its place for the most vulnerable groups, English language training must have priority. "What is disappointing is that the Learning and Skills Council has decided to drastically reduce its budget to provide English for speakers of other languages," said Les Lawrence, chairman of the association's children and young people board. The general secretary of the University and Colleges Union, which represents teachers of English for speakers of other languages in further education colleges, echoed Lawrence's comments. Sally Hunt said that the availability of translation services was not a major disincentive for people to learn English. "We know that the biggest disincentive is the now-prohibitive cost of learning English for so many people," she said. "The restriction of free English courses has hit the very people the government wants to learn English the hardest." Charges for English lessons were brought in this autumn, and about half of immigrants and asylum seekers have to pay them. The communities and local government department said it was working with another department to prepare a response to the integration commission's recommendation for a review of English teaching provision.