Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“The strain that immigration puts on essential services is something which is frequently cited as an issue of concern on the doorstep. While the Remain campaign likes to falsely portray any such sensible questioning as racist and scaremongering, figures which I have today obtained in answer to an Assembly question to the Health Minister illustrate that this is a very real issue.
“Having asked what the current cost of providing interpreter services in the Health Service is I am advised that in 2015/16 it was a staggering £3,402,745.
“I am not suggest that people already here who cannot speak English should not be provided with such a service – though learning the indigenous language is an imperative to assimilation – but it the height of folly to compound the problem by remaining within the EU, which has placed such a strain on our health service, because of its open door policy. These interpretation costs have spiralled by over 50% in just 4 years (see AQW 40659/11-16).
“For as long as we remain within the EU we are unable to control our borders with the result that pressure – such as the demand for interpreter services – will increase.
“While our health service unquestionably benefits form the services of people who come to the UK from the EU and beyond to work as doctors and nurses this would continue with Brexit under a points based system for immigration, which would mean vacancies are filled on merit and need.”
Note to editors
Mr Allister’s question and the answer received were as follows:
To ask the Minister of Health what is the current cost of providing interpreter services in the Health Service. The cost of providing interpreter services in 2015/16 (latest information available) was £3,402,745.