MoJ defies MPs on interpreters

The Ministry of Justice has been accused of defying a committee of MPs examining its "shambolic" handling of court interpreters.

An inquiry was launched by the Justice Committee after a series of blunders early last year by Applied Language Solutions (ALS), which was contracted by the MoJ to provide interpreting services. In one incident, a defendant charged with perverting justice was told he was accused of being a pervert.

The Justice Committee said the department may have been in contempt of Parliament after it ordered court staff not to take part in the inquiry.