LABOUR councillors are calling for less taxpayers' money to be spent on translation and interpretation.

Figures from Kirklees Council's Director of Finance to Labour councillors reveal that the draft three-year council tax and spending plans show that £561,000 net will be spent on translation and interpretation.

Now Labour councillors want money to be diverted into education schemes.

Labour leader Clr Mehboob Khan (pictured) said: "I think the public will be very surprised to find out that the draft council budget contains plans to spend more than £500,000 over three years to provide translation and interpretation.

"I am calling on the council to re-direct a large proportion of the £561,000 into helping adults to improve their English language and reading skills.

"It seems common sense that the cost of translation and interpretation is too high. The cash could be better spent on helping people to be independent and overcome the current a culture of 'dependency' on assistance with many everyday tasks."

Clr Khan said other bene- fits of improved English skills could be that unemployment could reduce and children would learn better English from their parents by the time they started school.

The council's three-year budget is to be decided at the council meeting tomorrow.