Many councils say they are struggling to cut the cost of translation services for migrants.

The government wants local authorities to reduce the amount spent on translating documents for non-English speakers.

Latest estimates suggest that £140m a year is spent on translation by the UK public sector as a whole.

Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles said: “If people can’t speak English, particularly migrants, they are at a disadvantage because they won’t be able to integrate into British society, get a job and get off benefits.”

Lincolnshire has seen a large number of migrant workers settle in the county in recent years – the majority from Eastern Europe.

I met Juarate Matulioniene, a leading figure in Boston’s Lithuanian community.

She told me that the majority of migrants wanted to learn English, but sometimes they needed a helping hand.

Ms Matulioniene said: “Translation is very important in an emergency, when we go to hospitals and when children go to school and they don’t know a word.”

Lincolnshire County Council spends £155,000 a year on translation services. More.

See: BBC

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