The tender documents for the national framework agreement for interpreting and translation went out today. NUBSLI have been campaigning against this with our #ScrapTheFramework campaign since February 2015 and have successfully delayed the tendering process for over a year.

Today’s development is deeply disappointing and shows that the government are not interested in providing a robust service to ensure high quality access, but are merely aiming to cut cost. This will be to the detriment of the access rights of the Deaf community.

The Cabinet office were unable to provide any answers to the issues we have been raising since September 2014 regarding sustainability of the workforce, breached legislative requirements, or unmet need. The framework cannot meet the needs of the Deaf community and will undoubtedly lead to a deterioration of standards and reduced numbers of qualified BSL/English Interpreters/Translators in the UK.

NUBSLI will continue to fight for the right to fair terms & conditions and fees for its interpreters, and for high quality access for the Deaf community. Even after the launch of the National Framework, all hope is not lost. Coming together as a profession, standing firm with one powerful collective voice will make us impossible to ignore. If you are an interpreter or translator then we urge you to join us . For members of the Deaf community, it is your right to refuse services under this contract.

This government are placing BSL/English Interpreting services at significant risk in the UK.