JP SILENTThe communication copied in full below has a voice of its own; it needs no comment from me.

Message from the Interpreter Project Team at HMCTS

Capita Translation and Interpreting (formerly ALS) have reduced the mileage rate that they pay interpreters from 40p to 20p per mile for any mileage over 10 miles.This is not a contractual change as MoJ do not pay mileage to Capita for the interpreters that they provide. When the contract was first let the mileage rate paid to interpreters was 20p, however this was increased to 40p in order to incentivise interpreters to carry out work for Capita. This increase was always intended to be temporary and, as many of you are aware, on 8 January 2013 Capita reduced the payment back to their original rate of 20p per mile.

We are aware of the performance issues that are currently being experienced in some locations. Where Capita are experiencing difficulties in providing an interpreter, HMCTS staff have been advised to continue to use the existing contingency arrangements; to either contact an interpreter directly from the NRPSI register, use a local agency or contact the booking team at Loughborough (for civil and family cases only).

The Interpreter Project Team is working with Capita to address these issues and will continue to liaise with District Judge Michael Snow (the Judicial Representative on the Interpreter Project Board).