I would like to make a request for the below information in relation to language services under the Freedom of Information Act.

1. Total number of onsite face-to-face interpreting assignments in 2020, 2021 and year-to-date.
Between 2020 – 29th May 2022 we are unable to report on the volumes used because the services have been used on an ad hoc basis from different suppliers by a range of departments across the council.
From 30th May 2022, 8 face to face booking have been fulfilled via our contract with DA Languages. If they are unable to source the requirement alternative suppliers are used across the council.
a) Please provide a breakdown by language for 2021 and year-to-date.
Following the above response, the breakdown for the 8 bookings with DA languages:
1 x French
1 x Kurdish / Kurdish Sorani
1 x Punjabi
1 x Portuguese (Brazilian)
2 x Pashtu
2 x Arabic

2. Total number of onsite face-to-face interpreting hours in 2020, 2021 and year-to-date.
Between 2020 – 29th May 2022 we are unable to report on the hours used because the services have been used on an ad hoc basis from different suppliers by a range of departments across the council.
From 30th May 2022, 12 hours 34 minutes of face to face interpreting have been used via our contract with DA Languages. If they are unable to source the requirement alternative suppliers are used across the council.

3. What are the minimum qualifications of the onsite face-to-face interpreters you use (if you access a government framework (i.e the CCS Languages Service framework) and it is easier to advise the interpreter qualification band (i.e band 1, 2 or 3 etc) this would be acceptable?
We use the CCS Languages Service framework and it is Band 3
Language Services - CCS (crowncommercial.gov.uk)

4. Have you undertaken a physical audit on interpreter banding inline with the contract in the last 12 month?No
a) If yes, please share the findings: Not applicable

5. Do you pay your supplier travel payments for face-to-face interpreting or is it an all-inclusive rate? Yes, the council pay for travel costs but not travel time
a) If you pay travel. Please advise how much travel you paid in 2020, 2021 year-to-date: We do not have this data.

6. Total number of onsite BSL interpreting assignments in 2020, 2021 and year-to-date.
Between 2020 – 29th May 2022 we are unable to report on the number used because the services have been used on an ad hoc basis from different suppliers by a range of departments across the council.
From 30th May 2022, 0 BSL interpreting bookings have been fulfilled via our contract with DA Languages.

7. Total number of remote video interpreting assignments in 2020, 2021 and year-to-date.
Between 2020 – 29th May 2022 we are unable to report on the number used because the services have been used on an ad hoc basis from different suppliers by a range of departments across the council.
From 30th May 2022, 73 video interpreting bookings have been fulfilled via our contract with DA Languages.

8. Total number of remote video interpreting hours in 2020, 2021 and year-to-date.
Between 2020 – 29th May 2022 we are unable to report on the hours used because the services have been used on an ad hoc basis from different suppliers by a range of departments across the council.
From 30th May 2022, 85 hours and 7 minutes of video interpreting hours have been fulfilled via our contract with DA Languages.

9. Total number of remote telephone interpreting assignments in 2020, 2021 and year-to-date.
Between 2020 – 29th May 2022 we are unable to report on the number used because the services have been used on an ad hoc basis from different suppliers by a range of departments across the council.
From 30th May 2022, to 30th September 158 remote telephone interpreting calls have been fulfilled via our contract with DA Languages.

10. Total number of remote telephone interpreting minutes in 2020, 2021 and year-to-date.
Between 2020 – 29th May 2022 we are unable to report on the number used because the services have been used on an ad hoc basis from different suppliers by a range of departments across the council.
From 30th May 2022, 5557 minutes of remote telephone interpreting have been fulfilled via our contract with DA Languages.

11. Total number of remote telephone interpreting assignments in 2020, 2021 and year-to-date.
Same as question 9

12. Total number of translated documents in 2020,2021 and year-to-date
Between 2020 – 29th May 2022 we are unable to report on the number because the services have been used on an ad hoc basis from different suppliers by a range of departments across the council.
From 30th May 2022, 15 requests for translation of documents have been fulfilled via our contract with DA Languages.

13. Are the services access via a government framework? Yes
a) If so, what is the name of the framework.
CCS Language Services RM6141 - Language Services - CCS (crowncommercial.gov.uk)

14. Who is the current supplier or suppliers providing the services?
The council have a contract with DA Languages and use other suppliers when DA Languages are unable to fulfil a request

15. Are there KPI’s in place with attached service credit penalties/liquidated damages?No
a) If so what are the KPI’s and please share if these have been achieved over the last 12 months? Not applicable
b) If so, how much has the supplier paid in service credit penalties? Not applicable

16. Does the current contract have a provision to increase rates within the contract period?
The Charges can only be changed by agreement in writing between the Buyer and the Supplier because of:
• Indexation
• Specific Change in Law
• Benchmarking using Call-Off Schedule 16 (Benchmarking)
a) Have any rates been increased within the contract period? No
b) What services have had a rate increase? Not applicable
c) What was the percentage increase? Not applicable

17. When did your current contract start?
This information can be found on the public Contracts Register Contract details (due-north.com)

18. When does your current contract expire and is there any optional extensions?
This information can be found on the public Contracts Register Contract details (due-north.com)

19. What is the annual contract value?
This information can be found on the public Contracts Register Contract details (due-north.com)

20. Who is the Senior Responsible owner for the contract?
This information can be found on the public Contracts Register Contract details (due-north.com)