asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much the Department for Work and Pensions and each of its agencies has spent on translation services in each of the past five years.[HL4295]

The information is not available in the format requested.

Since December 2005, the Department for Work and Pensions has used suppliers on the ethnic translation services framework to translate forms, leaflets, reports and letters. However, the International Pension Centre currently has a separate supply arrangement, but is looking to change to using suppliers on the ethnic translation services framework.

In 2006-07, the department spent around £267,500 on translation services. Information is not available for previous years, other than at disproportionate cost.