REVIEW OF INTERPRETERS AND TRANSLATORS SERVICES (Recommendations of sub-committees)

Mr Seng Han Thong asked the Prime Minister (a) what are the recommendations of the two sub-committees formed to review the interpreters' and translators' services; and (b) whether the Government has accepted all or part of the recommendations and, if so, will the new scheme be competitive to attract talents to join the service.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (Mr Lee Hsien Loong) (for the Prime Minister): Mr Speaker, Sir, two Working Groups, headed by the Subordinate Courts and MITA, were formed in May 2001 to review the Interpreters and Translators Schemes of Service respectively. I am pleased to announce that the two Working Groups have completed their review.

The Working Groups have proposed to improve the structure of the existing Interpreters and Translators Schemes to provide better career development and progression opportunities for serving and non-graduate officers. In addition, a new graduate scheme of service will be introduced to recruit graduate officers with good language competencies to serve as interpretation/translation specialists. Training and professional development opportunities for officers will be enhanced, to help raise the professional standards of interpretation and translation in the Civil Service.

The Government has accepted all the recommendations of the two Working Groups and details will be announced sometime in May 2003. The proposed changes should help the Civil Service better attract, retain and develop a core group of competent and dedicated interpreters and translators.