LANGUAGE LINE SERVICES FOR CITIZENS WHO DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH FLUENTLY

Early day motion 367, tabled 9 December 2004 by Parmjit Gill (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 72 members.

That this House welcomes the introduction by British Gas of its innovative Language Line service, which enables the company's engineers to overcome communications barriers with citizens who do not speak English fluently by enabling engineers to access a translator who speaks the customer's language via a special telephone system; notes the support of the Trading Standards Institute for this service; believes that Language Line helps impart vital home safety advice to all customers and could also be a deterrent against cowboy traders who may exploit confusion among householders whose first language is not English; and urges other private and public sector service providers to develop similar measures in recognition of the UK's increasingly diverse society.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 34, Labour 30, Labour/Co-operative 4, Conservative 1, DUP 1, Scottish National Party 1, UUP 1.