Automatic translation of council documents for non-English speakers is expected to be abolished by Luton council at a meeting on Monday (June 10).
The decision was proposed by local government minister Eric Pickles for all local authorities and is expected to be approved by Luton council’s executive committee.
There are currently 122 different languages spoken in Luton schools, and 45.4 per cent of the town’s population are from ethnic minority groups.
Mr Pickles said in a ministerial statement: “While there may be rare occasions in which [translation] is entirely necessary, for instance in emergency situations, I am concerned that such services are in many cases being provided unnecessarily because of a misinterpretation of equality or human rights legislation.”
Currently, the council produces documents with a statement that it can be made available in other languages but Mr Pickles raised concerns this might be reducing the incentive for some migrant communities to learn English.
He said the practice also has an unintentional adverse impact on integration, but by stopping the interpretation, there will be further incentive for all communities to learn English.
He said: “Learning English is the basis for an individual’s ability to progress in British society. It will promote cohesion and better community relations.”
Ending translation of documents will also save the council money.
Interpreters will still be used, particularly in one-to-one situations such as social work assessment and child protection, and documents will be translated in emergency situations.
English language lessons for students with English as a foreign language are available across the town.
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