Welsh Assembly Government to increase spending on its translation department
The Assembly Government is planning to increase spending on its translation department at a time when the rest of the public sector is being downsized.
The move has prompted astonishment among those aware of it. One management post has already been upgraded and staff are to be invited to apply for new roles on a higher salary band.
The department is responsible for translating documents from English into Welsh.
An Assembly Government’s spokesman said: “Translation is a very important part of our business. The amount of translation has grown over the last few years, and we have responded by making the translation service larger. This has not resulted in universal upgrading or increase of salaries.”
Charlotte Linacre, campaign manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “It will be a shock to taxpayers that pay rises are being given out now, as many are tightening their belts this Christmas and face a VAT hike in the New Year.